NEW DELHI: The Pakistan Supreme Court on Monday removed another hurdle for former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to run in the upcoming elections by ending lifetime disqualification for lawmakers.
With elections fast approaching, the SC has put to rest the raging debate on whether aspirants disqualified under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution could contest polls in light of the amendments in the Elections Act 2017.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party chairman Jahangir Tareen were disqualified under the provisions of this law.Ousted prime minister Imran Khan, who was disqualified in the Toshakhana case last year, was also hit by the same law.
However, Khan’s case is different as his disqualification has not attained finality. The cricketer-turned-politician’s appeal against the disqualification is still pending.
Sharif’s case on the other hand was final until the period of disqualification was reduced to five years.
The legal conundrum arose in view of a 2018 SC judgment in the Samiullah Baloch case, when the apex court ruled that disqualification handed down under Article 62(1)(f) was supposed to be “permanent”, according to a report in Dawn.
With elections fast approaching, the SC has put to rest the raging debate on whether aspirants disqualified under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution could contest polls in light of the amendments in the Elections Act 2017.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party chairman Jahangir Tareen were disqualified under the provisions of this law.Ousted prime minister Imran Khan, who was disqualified in the Toshakhana case last year, was also hit by the same law.
However, Khan’s case is different as his disqualification has not attained finality. The cricketer-turned-politician’s appeal against the disqualification is still pending.
Sharif’s case on the other hand was final until the period of disqualification was reduced to five years.
The legal conundrum arose in view of a 2018 SC judgment in the Samiullah Baloch case, when the apex court ruled that disqualification handed down under Article 62(1)(f) was supposed to be “permanent”, according to a report in Dawn.
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.
The dilemma cropped up in the top court last month during an electoral disqualification dispute moved by Sardar Mir Badshah Khan Qaisarani, who was disqualified for producing a fake degree. His appeal is still pending before the Lahore High Court.
(With inputs from agencies)