LAHORE, June 25: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial constituted a full bench on Monday to hear a contempt petition against President Asif Ali Zardari for allegedly continuing to indulge in political activities in violation of a court order issued last year.

The chief justice himself will head the bench which includes Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah.

Petitioner Advocate Azhar Siddique contended that the court in its May 12, 2011, judgment on dual-office held by the president had ruled that he should not use the highest office for political purposes.

He argued that the president had committed contempt of court by not disassociating himself from his political office -- co-chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party.

Earlier, the petition was being heard by a single-judge bench. But the chief justice decided on Monday that the matter should be heard by a larger bench because a number of important legal points had been raised by the petitioner’s counsel.

The chief justice also issued a notice to the president’s principal secretary. The full bench will take up the case on June 27.