LAHORE, June 22: The Lahore High Court on Friday issued a notice to the principal secretary to President Asif Ali Zardari on a contempt of court petition against the president for not disassociating himself from political activities as expected by a full bench in its ruling in the dual office case.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial observed that a larger bench should hear the case owing to important legal questions raised by the petitioner. A larger bench will be constituted to proceed on the matter, he added.

Earlier, petitioner`s counsel AK Dogar argued that court should summon the president to explain his position, as the Supreme Court had summoned former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in contempt case.

The CJ, however, said the court had issued notice to the principal secretary and would take a decision after submission of reply by the secretary.

The CJ adjourned the hearing till June 27.

The petitioner said Zardari neither disassociated himself from political office at the `earliest possible` as directed by the court. He said the directions issued by the court had not been obeyed and the president had not stopped using the premises of the Presidency for party activities.

He prayed to the court to proceed against the president under the contempt of court law.