LAHORE – Counsel for the federation in the contempt of court case against President Asif Ali Zardari clarified on Thursday he did not state before the Lahore High Court the president would soon leave the political office of PPP co-chairman.
“The president does not hold any political office,” Wasim Sajjad maintained while interacting with the media on the high court premises, saying his statement was twisted.
The counsel argued he had informed the high court the ruling PPP (Parliamentarians) had its own system and that Amin Faheem headed the party, registered with the election commission.
“The intra-party elections of the PPP are held as per the rules and regulations of the election commission,” the counsel went on to say, “The PPP which is headed by President Zardari is practically dysfunctional.”
About the demand for dissolution of the Election Commission of Pakistan, Sajjad, who is also a senior PML-Q leader, said it was not an easy task and that only extra-constitutional steps could lead to a delay in the next elections. He said the general elections would be held on time and that the chief election commissioner had been elected for a five-year term. He said members of the election commission could only be removed under Article 209 of the Constitution and for this a strong reference brining solid reasons for their removal was necessary.
About Dr Tahirul Qadri’s petition regarding restructuring of the election commission, the counsel said he did not know what the Supreme Court would decide.