Pakistani President To Relinquish Political Position By Court Rule
Asif Ali Zardari (livepakistan.com)
A Pakistani court ruled on Thursday that the president of the republic Asif Ali Zardari must renounce the position of co-chairman of the ruling party, a decision that is expected to take away from him a very serious source of power causing a new political conflict in a country that is already under a lot of international pressure after the killing of Bin Laden last week in a town nearby the Pakistani capital.
Zardari’s position is also challenged in court on other matters, such as corruption, which he considers politically motivated.
He has been criticized for his poor performances since he took office in 2008, and his loyalists consider that the judiciary wants to get rid of him at any cost.
The Lahore High Court ruled today on a petition filed by a lawyer one year ago, in which he was arguing that Pakistan’s constitution does not allow a president to hold a political position while executing the presidential office.
The court agreed that the president should rule with “neutrality, impartiality and aloofness from any partisan interests.” It also stressed out that the president should dissociate himself from any political office.
Lahore High Court (imagesofasia.com)
All previous presidents of Pakistan have relinquished their political position as they began executing the presidential office.
The president could choose to ignore the rule or appeal it. Opposition leaders have already asked him to step down.11
