Govt's reply sought on petition seeking Zardari's disqualification

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Wednesday directed the federal government to submit comments on a petition seeking the disqualification of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, ARY News reported.

Advocate Muzamil Khan moved the petition in the high court, claiming that former president Asif Ali Zardari didn’t take measures despite being in the know in advance about the United States (US) forces’ raid in Abottabad in 2011. He, therefore, pleaded that the PPP leader be disqualified as member of the National Assembly.

In 2011, the US force had conducted a covert operation in Bilal Town area of Abbottabad and killed Osama bin Laden. Laden was the founder of the infamous militant group Al-Qaeda which claimed responsibility for many terrorist assaults worldwide, including the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

It is pertinent mention here that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Khurram Sher Zaman on Jan 10 withdrew his petition from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against Asif Ali Zardari, saying he had key evidence against the PPP leader that he would furnish before the top court.

A four-member ECP commission conducted hearing of the plea. Zaman, at the outset of hearing, requested to withdraw his petition stating he wanted to approach the Supreme Court for the case. Zaman is the PTI lawmaker from Sindh.

The ECP asked him to submit an application for withdrawing his appeal, so the election commission could dispose of his petition.

“I’ve got the evidence that should be produced before the Supreme Court,” he added.

The PTI lawmaker had moved the petition in the ECP accusing Zardari of concealing his assets. He alleged that the PPP leader owned an apartment in Belaire Condomi­niums located at 524 East 72nd Street in New York but didn’t disclose it in his nomination papers for the 2018 general elections.

“Zardari under the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Rules of the Election Commission of Pakistan, as per past precedent, should be disqualified from holding public office under Article 62 (1)(f), as in my opinion he ceases to be truthful and sagacious.”

He, therefore, pleaded the ECP to disqualify the PPP co-chairman as member of the National Assembly.