LHC seeks assurance by 15 on president's political office
07 February, 2013
LAHORE: A full bench of the Lahore High Court gave until February 15 to the federal government counsel to assure that President Asif Ali Zardari would not hold any political office and the Presidency will not be used for political activities. During proceedings on Wednesday, federal government counsel Waseem Sajjad submitted in writing that there will not be any activity of the PPP at the Presidency from now on. As the bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial started dictating its order and termed the statement submitted by Wasim Sajjad as one on behalf of the president, the counsel (Sajjad) objected and requested the bench to term it as on behalf of the federation. At this, the bench asked him to bring a statement on behalf of the principal secretary to the president. Sajjad said he was speaking on behalf of the federation, and the president is part of it. He said the earlier judgement dealt with the use of Presidency for political meetings and political office enjoyed by the president. He asserted that now the matter had come to an end after the assurance that the Presidency would not be used for political meetings and a clarification that the president did not have any political office. Sajjad said that the PPP was an association and its activities did not fall in the domain of political activities, legally. The court remarked that president's office neutrality should be visible and no steps should be taken by the "association" which favoured any political party. End.
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