SHC issues notices in two offices case

KARACHI: Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to President, Law Minister, Chairman Senate, National Assembly Speaker and Attorney General of Pakistan till November 24 during hearing of a petition filed against the two offices held by President Asif Ali Zardari, Geo News reported Thursday.

The courted decreed a large bench would hear the petition in view of delicacy and sensitivity of the case. Senior advocate of Supreme Court Rasheed Ahmad Akhund and a close aide of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, filed this petition praying to the court to declare that the president could not hold two offices and resign as the head of state or the regulator of his political party, and that no person could hold two offices at the same time, as this was illegal and unlawful.

The petition said the president is supposed to perform his constitutional functions beyond all political, factional and individual interests after he is chosen as the president of the state. But, President Zardari is exercising the powers of all constitutional office-bearers including the Prime Minister.

The petition likened President Zardari to ancient emperors who reckoned themselves above law, adding anchorpersons of Geo TV network are being declared as agents of Israel and India for bring facts into the full light.

Under Article-19(A) of the Constitution, the petitioner is entitled to gain access to the analyses and information presented by these anchorpersons.

Akhund also said in his petition that Article 6 was meaningless and ineffective in the presence of High Treason (punishment) Act (LXIII) of the 1973 Constitution.

The court adjourned the hearing till November 24.