The Lahore High Court (LHC) chief justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry has observed that after 18th amendment head of a ruling political party seems to be more powerful than the Prime Minister. The Chief justice passed these remarks while heading a full bench, which is hearing petitions against dual offices of President Asif Ali Zardari.
The bench adjourned further hearing till January 31 and directed the petitioner's counsel, A. K. Dogar to explain, "what powers are left with president now and what effect these would have on the political scene if the president as head of a ruling political party exercises his powers positively or negatively?"
Senior lawyer Abid Hasan Manto as amicus curie submitted before the court that the petitioner had filed the petition being impressed by the media reports and did not have sold evidence that president House was being used for political activities by President Zardari as Co-Chairman of the party.
Manto said the constitution does not bar President from holding the office of a political party but President should be neutral figure being symbol of the federation.
Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan questioned Dogar if the President held office of head of a political party and did not allow President House to be used for political activities of that party then what would he say?
Dogar replied that constitution said the president should be neutral and non partisan but it was not possible if he was also heading a political party.
Pakistan Lawyers Forum's (PLF) Engineer Ghulam Jillani and Advocate Asif Mehmood Khan have filed the petitions seeking disqualification of President Asif Ali Zardari for holding a political office of co-chairperson of PPP.
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