Khawaja's petition is yet to be formally entertained by the office of the Supreme Court. — File photo
ISLAMABAD: A former official of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional presidential immunity against legal proceedings as un-Islamic and unconstitutional.
Khalid Khawaja, also a former air force official, filed the petition after a Supreme Court verdict that nullified an earlier legal amnesty given to politicians against pending criminal and corruption cases.
As a result of the Supreme Court declaring that amnesty as illegal, corruption and criminal cases against many including politicians have been re-opened. Among the beneficiaries of the amnesty is President Asif Ali Zardari who now claims constitutional immunity against legal proceedings which started before his election to the office of the president.
Khalid Khawaja in his petition argues that the presidential immunity is discriminatory as every citizen is equal before the law. Khawaja's petition is yet to be formally entertained by the office of the Supreme Court which normally avoids entertaining petitions against provisions of the Constitution.
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