SC revoked lifetime disqualification for politicians contesting polls

The Supreme court nullified lifetime disqualification for lawmakers under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution.

The apex court heard multiple petitions.In one petition former PML-N lawmaker Sardar Mir Badshah Khan Qaisarani challenged his lifetime disqualification over a fake degree for holding a public office or participating in elections.

The key beneficiaries of apex court verdict will be Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif and former leader PTI Jehangir Tareen,  as both were disqualified for life by Article 62(1)f.

A seven-member bench of the apex court, presided by Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali announced the reserved verdict today.

The apex court decision was passed by a majority of 6:1; Justice Yahya Afridi dissented from the majority judgment.The proceedings were broadcast live on the apex court’s website.

In 2018, the apex court five member bench under CJP Saqib Nisar ruled in Samiullah Baloch case, that disqualification handed down under Article 62 (1)(f) of the Constitution is for life (permanent). The verdict practically ended the political future of Pakistan’s bigwigs.

However, in June 2023, an amendment was brought in the Elections Act 2017, specifying that the period of the electoral disqualification will be for five years, not for life.