“No political activity of the president in the Presidency will be made public till the decision on the appeal being filed in the apex court against the LHC verdict,” a PPP insider told Dawn on Thursday. – File Photo

LAHORE: President Asif Ali Zardari is reported to have decided to avert any clash with the judiciary in the wake of the Lahore High Court verdict barring him from using the Presidency for political activities. Dawn

After the verdict, he said, the president had met PPP MNAs, MPAs and ticket-holders from Bahawalpur division but “officially no press release or confirmation from the presidency was made” in this regard.

”Although the LHC decision is not binding on the president, he (the president) thinks violation of its observations publicly will help his opponents make an issue of it,” he said.

”President Zardari is of the view that since not much time is left for the next general election it will not be wise to pit his party against the judiciary. The president, meanwhile, may continue with his political engagements 'publicly' in Bilawal House in Karachi,” he said, adding that PPP circles hoped that Supreme Court would suspend the LHC verdict.

The LHC ruled on May 12 that President Zaradri should relinquish the position of co-chairman of PPP and the Presidency should not be used for political activities.

Talking to Dawn, Faratullah Babar, spokesman for President Zardari, said the PPP secretary general had announced filing of an appeal against the decision. He said since the verdict “no political activity has taken place in the presidency”.

”I cannot confirm that there will be any political activity in the Presidency in the future but since the LHC verdict no such meetings have occurred,” he said.

”The PPP and its leaders always respected courts verdicts in the past and will continue doing so,” Mr Babar said.

Meanwhile, the Punjab chapter of PPP has announced a protest schedule against the LHC decision.