Petition against dual office of Zardari: LHC summons federal law secretary on October 4

A full bench of Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday directed Federal Law Secretary to appear before the court on October 04 in a petition seeking disqualification of Asif Ali Zardari for holding dual offices (Co-Chairperson of PPP and President of Pakistan).
The court had previously issued notice to the Attorney General for appearance but no one from his office turned up to represent him. During last hearing on July 7, 2010, counsel for Asif Ali Zardari, and Deputy Attorney raised objections over the petition on the premise that the petitioner, Pakistan Lawyers Forum, lacked locus standi in the matter to move the petition.
However, the bench ruled that the petitioner be heard, so that it could be known how the petitioner convince on this point. The defence counsel, however, did not agree and boycotted the proceeding. The petitioner counsel A. K. Dogar said that non appearance of the respondent counsel amounts to an act of contempt on their part and also that they have nothing to plead in defence.
In brief arguments, the counsel said Asif Ali Zardari is not eligible to hold two offices at the same time as the law does not permit a person to hold a political office, with his Constitutional office of the President. Before proceedings further with the matter, the court deemed in fit to seek appearance of the Law Secretary on the next date of hearing to know about the appearance of the defence side.
The petitioner says, Asif Ali Zardari is required to maintain utmost impartiality and neutrality and to keep himself aloof from the party politics as such, he should not give the impression that he is siding with PPP. The petitioner maintains that in order to address the situation, President Zardari may be directed to surrender his party office so that he could serve the constitutional office as non-partisan, non-political and as neutral person.