LAHORE, March 29: The Lahore High Court disposed of on Friday a contempt of court petition filed against President Asif Ali Zardari for not complying with the court’s 2011 judgment which required him to quit dual office and avoid political activities.

The federation’s counsel Wasim Sajjad informed a five-judge full bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial that President Zardari had quit the office of PPP co-chairperson and also shunned political activities in the presidency. He said the steps taken by the president showed his compliance with the LHC judgment and requested the bench to discharge the proceedings.

Chief Justice Bandial observed that the steps taken by the president for implementation of the judgment were a welcome sign and said this could be the best positive outcome of the case and the court expected that “President Zardari shall continue to conduct himself in a manner befitting the law”.

He observed that further proceedings in the case were not required after the undertaking submitted by the federation’s counsel and disposed of the petition.

The chief justice turned down a request of the petitioner’s counsel for issuing an order for the president not to indulge in any political activity in future. He said the petitioner could approach the court again if any grievance arose in future.

Justices Nasir Saeed Sheikh, Sheikh Najamul Hasan, Ijazul Ahsan and Syed Mansoor Ali Shah were other members on the bench.

The contempt petition filed by A.K. Dogar and Azhar Siddique on behalf of Munir Ahmad had questioned the political activities by President Zardari and said it was a violation of the LHC order of May 12, 2011.

The petitioner alleged that the president had not dissociated himself from the political office and sought contempt proceedings against him.