Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Thursday constituted a five-judge larger bench to hear the dual office case against President Asif Ali Zardari. The bench comprises Justice Bandial, Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh, Justice Sheikh Najmul Hasan, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah. The petition against Asif Ali Zardari holding dual offices has been filed by Azhar Siddique.
Siddique had contended that the court in its May 12, 2011 judgment on dual office held by the president had ruled that he should not use the highest office for political purposes. He argued that the president had committed contempt of court by not disassociating himself from his political office. Earlier, the court said it expected the president to relinquish political activities by September 5 in accordance with an order issued by a larger bench of the LHC on May 12, 2011.