Punishing president is like punishing the state: CJ LHC
Justice Bandial has said awarding punishment to president amounts to awarding punishment to state.
LAHORE: Chief Justice Omar Atta Bandial made these observations while heading a larger bench of LHC during the course of hearing of contempt of court plea against President Asif Ali Zardari in dual offices case Wednesday.
Attorney General (AG) of Pakistan was also present in the court.
In the inception of hearing the counsel for the petitioner argued that office of president is formal while the powers rest with parliament only.
Chief Justice remarked the president enjoys immunity in criminal cases. Awarding punishment to the president in criminal cases amounts to awarding punishment to state, he added.
Justice Mansoor Shah remarked the third force or the dictator caused harm to the constitution always.
Giving the arguments AG said constitution does not impose any bar on political activities of the president. Asif Ali Zardari is elected president of the country and such petitioners had misguided the judges like you in Kalabagh dam case, he added.
The chief justice reprimanded AG upon it saying he should not criticize the court in personal capacity. If there is any objection on Kalabagh dam then the verdict be challenged in the court, he remarked. Be careful while speaking before the court in future, he added.
