Contempt petition against president disposed of

A five-member bench of the Lahore High Court on Friday disposed of a contempt petition against President Asif Ali Zardari after federation’s counsel submitted that the president had quit the party office.

The five-member bench of LHC Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh, Justice Sheikh Najamul Hasan, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah was hearing a contempt petition filed by Muneer Ahmad Khan against the president for not complying with the court order in dual office case.

As proceedings started, federation’s counsel Waseem Sajjad appeared before the court with Attorney General of Pakistan Irfan Qadir.

Sajjad submitted a certificate from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), saying the PPP intra-party elections were held on March 21 in Islamabad wherein Sardar Latif Khan Khosa was elected secretary general and Barrister Masood Kausur information secretary.

“Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is patron-in-chief of the PPP whereas President Asif Ali Zardari is not holding any office in the party,” he added.

He pointed out that the dual office case verdict dealt with political activities in the presidency and political office enjoyed by the president.

Sajjad said he had already submitted that no political meetings would be held in the Presidency and now the president did not have any political office.

Both expectations expressed in the court verdict had been fulfilled and the matter was closed, he added.

The chief justice observed that the highest state functionary had taken steps to comply with the judgement which established the supremacy of law.

“These are the things that are expected from men and women of such stature,” he added.

The chief justice further observed that his colleagues had similar sentiments and after the statement by federation’s counsel, there was no need to continue the proceedings.

The chief justice appreciated assistance rendered by Waseem Sajjad and the attorney general in the matter and termed the outcome positive.

Responding to apprehensions expressed by the petitioner’s counsel regarding the statement of the federation’s counsel, the chief justice said he could approach the court again, if the order was not implemented.