The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved verdict in the case determining whether disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) of the constitution is for one year, five years or lifetime.
ISLAMABAD, (Pakistan Point News - 14th Feb, 2018) : The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved verdict in the case determining whether disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) of the constitution is for one year, five years or lifetime. The hearing of the case was held by a five-member bench of the apex court --- headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah.
The CJP inquired whether a disqualified person can contest next election after declaration. Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf responded that the time period of disqualification should be determined on a case to case basis. “The disqualification will continue until legislation is done by the parliament and any court declares verdict on it. The question arises that how the disqualification period will end. The length of the disqualification period under Article 62(1)(f) has not been determined in the constitution,” he maintained.
“Will the stain of disqualification stay behind after the dishonest and non-righteous person,” asked the Attorney General. Justice Ijazul Ahsan asserted that the disqualification will remain for lifetime until its blotch is not removed. The court after hearing the arguments reserved the verdict in all 17 appeals against the disqualification of lawmakers. Former premier Nawaz Sharif and former secretary general of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Jahangir Tareen were disqualified by the Supreme Court under Article 62(1)(f), which sets the precondition for a member of parliament to be "sadiq and ameen" (honest and righteous).
