Double standards: President’s politicking astonishes PPP

Zardari had been restrained by law from holding political meetings, says Babar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan People’s Party says it is astonished that the president is no longer restrained by a court order refraining him from participating in partisan political meetings.

In a statement late Monday night Spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said that Asif Ali Zardari had been restrained by court observations from holding party meetings.

The then president, respecting the court orders, scrupulously restrained himself from holding meetings of party legislators and workers in the Presidency. He did so despite serious reservations about it, he said.

The press release issued Monday by the PM’s house has revealed for the first time that the restraint does not apply to President Mamnoon Hussain. “Even though it is astonishing it vindicates the PPP’s principled position on the issue,” he added.

Farhatullah Babar said that the Party always believed that the President is elected by Parliament. This in itself is created through a political activity and having members drawn from all political parties.

The President is an integral part of the Parliament comprising representatives from all political parties. He is required by the Constitution to address both Houses assembled together every year for a sermon of political nature.

Babar stated that despite the obvious political nature of the office of the head of state ex-President Zardari discontinued meeting party members in the Presidency. This was out of respect to the court observations, he said.

“Clearly the double standards followed floats on the surface of the record. Such double standards being practiced in respect of a PPP president and others feels like déjà vu as the party has endured many double standards in the past,” Babar said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2015.