Pakistani court dismisses plea seeking high treason trial of Asif Ali Zardari

LAHORE: A Pakistani court today dismissed a petition seeking trial of former President Asif Ali Zardari under high treason for his "anti-army" remarks.

Petitioner Ilyas Gujjar, a leader of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf's All Pakistan Muslim League, argued in the Lahore High Court that Zardai and other PPP leaders have uttered statements against armed forces of the country to damage the operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan.

Zardari last week lashed out at the military establishment for overstepping its domain in Sindh where his party (Pakistan People's Party) is in power.

"The army chiefs come and go every three years but the political leadership is here to stay. We know the country better and we know how to run its affairs," Zardari had said.

Zardari had also warned the establishment to refrain from character assassination of his party and "if you do not stop, I will come out with a list of accused generals since Pakistan's creation."

The petitioner argued that Zardari's statement was against the solidarity and respect for the country and its institutions.

"The country is in war at this time and such statements are aimed at strengthening the terrorist," he said, adding Zardari acted irresponsibly while issuing the statement against the armed forces of the country.

"Zardari has committed treason under Article 6 of the Constitution and he should be tried under high treason charges for trying to destabilize the country," he pleaded.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Ijazul Ahsan dismissed the petition as non-maintainable.