By Yasser Latif Hamdani
In the course of the Memogate scandal, a lot has been written and said by shrilled-voiced commentators on the application of Article 6 of the Constitution of 1973. To me this comes as a surprise because there is no way that anyone who has read Article 6 can imagine that it can be applied in any form to the Memogate scandal.
What does Article 6 aforesaid say? It reads:
“High treason. (1) Any person who abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance, or attempts to hold in abeyance or attempts or conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance the Constitution by use of force or show of force or by any other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason. (2) Any person aiding and abetting or collaborating the acts mentioned in clause (1) shall likewise be guilty of high treason. (2-A) An act of high treason mentioned in clause (1) or clause (2) shall not be validated by any Court including the Supreme Court and a High Court. (3) Majlis-e-Shura (Parliament) shall by law provide for the punishment of persons found guilty of high treason.”
