LHC issues notices to president’s secretary, AG in dual office case

Reissuing a notice to the principal secretary to President Asif Ali Zardari, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday adjourned the hearing until September 14 in the contempt of court petition against President Zardari for not relinquishing the political office of PPP co-chairman.
The hearing was conducted by a larger LHC bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial. Other members of the bench include Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh, Justice Sheikh Najamul Hasan, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah.
Wasim Sajjad represented the federation during the hearing whereas no one appeared on the president’s behalf. During the hearing, the deputy attorney general informed the court that Attorney General Irfan Qadir could not appear for the hearing due to his engagements at the Supreme Court’s Quetta Registry. The deputy attorney general requested the bench to adjourn the hearing. Addressing the bench, the counsel for petitioner Azhar Siddique said the president had received the notice through his principal secretary, adding that the fact that no one appeared on the president’s behalf was also tantamount to contempt of court.
The bench subsequently said that if the president had any reservations or objections pertaining to the LHC’s verdict in the dual office case, he could register those before the bench through a counsel or a representative. Sajjad said the government respected the judiciary, adding that the question that needed addressing was that whether or not contempt of court had been committed. The bench stated that the courts respected the president’s office and his position, however, rule of law was of utmost importance.
Adjourning the hearing until September 14, the bench issued summons for Attorney General Irfan Qadir for the upcoming hearing. Taking to reporters after the hearing, Sajjad said the federal government would file a formal request to become party in the case.