Taseer denies holding of profitable office

Punjab Governor Salman Taseer through his counsel on Monday informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) that he was not holding any profitable office and the allegations of indulging him in political activities were baseless.
The reply was submitted in a petition filed by Chief Executive of Haseeb Waqas Sugar Mills, Mian Waqas Riaz challenging the appointment of the Governor on the grounds that he was director of certain companies which disqualifies him from being Governor under the Constitution.
Barrister Syed Ali Zafar filed the reply, which said that the Governor was not holding any profitable office and the petition filed against him was based on mala fide intention, hence liable to be dismissed. It was stated that the petitioner had grudges against the Governor, as there were many corruption cases against the petitioner pending in different courts, which he believed that were filed at the behest of Governor Salman Taseer.
The court could not take cognisance of governor's disqualification under article 63 of the constitution as it was only related to disqualification of parliamentarians. A full bench headed by Justice Ijaz Ahmad Chaudhry adjourned further hearing on the petition till May 27.
The allegation against the respondent was that he had been openly campaigning for Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in clear violation of constitution as a Governor has to be a neutral figure and required to maintain a non-partisan image, the petitioner said. He alleged that the respondent was misusing public funds and resources of Punjab government for his personal benefits and to campaign for a political party.
"It was, therefore, prayed that on account of these grounds the respondent has rendered himself disqualified to hold the office of Governor of Punjab so he should be directed to explain under what law he claimed to hold the office of Governor," Waqas said in his petition. He also prayed the court to restrain Salman Taseer from holding the meetings of PPP at Governor House and from misusing public money for political purposes.