The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) says it is astonished that unlike former president Asif Ali Zardari, the incumbent president of the country, Mamnoon Hussain is not restrained by any court order from participating in partisan political meetings.
In a statement late Monday night, Zardari’s spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said that the former president had been restrained by a court observations from holding party meetings since such meetings were regarded as political activities and was not in keeping with the dignity and non-partisan nature of the office of the head of the state.
The former president, respecting court orders, restrained himself from meetings with party legislators and workers while he was the president even though he had serious reservations about it, he said.
He said that the press release issued Monday by the Prime Minister’s House has revealed for the first time that the restraint did not apply to current President Mamnoon Hussain.
“Even though it is astonishing, it vindicates PPP’s principled position on the issue.”
The president is an integral part of the parliament, which comprises representatives from all political parties. He is required by the constitution to address both houses assembled together every year for a political sermon. However, despite the obvious political nature of the position, former president Zardari discontinued meeting party parliamentarians and workers in the Presidency out of respect to the court observations, the spokesman said.
The double standards being followed have made themselves obvious. Such double standards are like déjà vu as the party has endured many such double standards in the past, he said.
