Court summons top legal official on case relating to Zardari

M Zulqernain

Lahore, Oct 8 (PTI) A Pakistani court Thursday
summoned the government's top legal official to ascertain its
stance on a petition filed against President Asif Ali Zardari
for holding two offices – the presidency and co-chairmanship
of the ruling Pakistan People's Party.

A two-member bench of the Lahore High Court summoned
Attorney General Latif Khosa while hearing the petition filed
by A K Dogar, who is also the counsel for banned JuD chief
Hafiz Mohammad Saeed.

In his petitions, Dogar has said Zardari's decision to
continue as co-chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party
(PPP) after being elected President was a blatant violation of
the constitution.

The constitution states that the President, who is the
head of state and represents the unity of the republic, shall
be non-partisan.

Dogar, a senior member of the Pakistan Lawyers Forum,
has also served a legal notice on Zardari, asking him to
surrender either the office of PPP co-chairman or President.

He also referred to a judgment of the Supreme Court
which said the President will be accorded the highest respect
and esteem "if he conducts himself with utmost impartiality
and neutrality".

The apex court's judgement also states that the
President should keep "himself entirely aloof from party
politics" and not give the impression that "he is siding with
one faction or working against the other".

Dogar said, "The Supreme Court has laid down that the
President is a non-partisan person. So in order to protect and
preserve the dignity of the office, Zardari is required to
maintain a neutral image." PTI MZ
ANU


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