President can be impeached if people want: LHC

Justice Mansoor Ali Shah of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has said that the president could be impeached if the people so desired.
He gave these remarks while hearing a contempt of court plea in the dual office case against President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday when a five-member LHC bench headed by Chief Justice Omar Atta Bandial resumed hearing in the matter.
The court granted the plea from the counsel for the federation on advancing arguments in the case.
LHC Chief Justice Omar Atta Bandial remarked he had no authority to nullify provisions of the constitution.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah observed people had to bring change in law as they were supreme.
AK Dogar, counsel for the petitioner, argued that the basic spirit of the law could not be changed even if the people wanted to.
He said the matter of contempt of court and law were equal for everyone. “No one could be exempted from punishment for committing contempt of court whether it was the head of state or an ordinary citizen,” he added. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah said the president could be impeached if the people wanted his impeachment. Chief Justice Bandial said, “We are not here to convict or disqualify everyone. Ensuring implementation of court’s verdicts is our objective.” But the bench would ensure that judicial directives were implemented, the judges said, adding that the country’s high-profile figures should not be “targeted” through such petitions.
The bench, however, said it was ironic that certain sections had been referring to the ideals of law, the Sunnah and constitution, and yet they kept returning to the argument of presidential immunity.
Subsequently, the court adjourned the hearing until today (Thursday).