Raja Pervez Ashraf Says Presidential Immunity Ends Upon Leaving Office

Lahore (Asif Iqbal): Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Central Punjab President Raja Pervez Ashraf has stated that a president’s constitutional immunity remains valid only as long as he holds office, and it immediately ends upon stepping down. He made these remarks while speaking to the media after offering condolences and reciting Fateha at the residence of PPP leader Mian Manzoor Ahmed Maneka.

He was accompanied by PPP leaders including Syed Hassan Murtaza, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed, Faisal Mir, Chaudhry Akhtar, Qasim Zia, Aurangzeb Burki, Rana Jamil Manj, Haji Azizur Rehman Chan, Mian Nadeem Maneka, Chaudhry Riaz, Jahangir Wattoo, Dr. Khayyam Hafeez, Jahanzeb Badar, Aamir Naseer Butt, Arif Zafar, Farrukh Marghoob, Mian Wasil Manzoor Maneka, Rana Khalid, Faheem Thakur, Rao Babar Jamil, Zeeshan Shami, Naseem Sabir, and Mudassar Shakir.

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Earlier in the day, Raja Pervez Ashraf visited the homes of PPP leaders Zulfiqar Ali Badr (his cousin), Dr. Ayesha Shaukat (his maternal aunt), and Nargis Khan (his sister) to offer condolences and recite Fateha on their passing.

Speaking to journalists, the former prime minister said that Mian Manzoor Maneka was an asset to the PPP. Commenting on national matters, he said it is not appropriate to issue statements solely on the basis of the IMF report, adding that constitutional institutions must operate within their prescribed limits.

He also remarked that the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should meet the PTI founder, and responding to another question, said that no government desires inflation. However, he acknowledged that the strict economic measures taken in recent years were unavoidable.

Raja Pervez Ashraf further confirmed that there was an agreement between the PPP and PML-N to hold local government elections in the province.