ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) cannot disqualify any lawmaker for lifetime.
In its short order issued on Sunday, the apex court said, “ECP has no authority to decide upon the pre-election disqualification of a lawmaker.”
The Supreme Court stated this in its four-page short order released on Sunday in Faisal Vawda’s lifetime disqualification case.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial wrote the short-order, who heard the case along with Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ayesha Malik.
The apex top court turned down the verdicts of the ECP and the high court and said: “ECP has no jurisdiction to inquire into and decide upon the matter of pre-election disqualification and disqualification of a returned candidate.”
Faisal Vawda informed the Supreme Court that he received a citizenship renunciation certificate from the US authorities on June 25, 2018, SC said, adding Vawda admitted his mistake and apologised unconditionally to the SC.
The apex court further stated that Vawda was not eligible for contesting elections in 2018. After tendering an unconditional apology, Article 63 (1) (C) was applied in this case and now he (Faisal Vawda) can contest elections for the next assembly term.
Hence, the former PTI leader would be considered disqualified till the tenure end of the incumbent parliament’s tenure, read the judgment. He is eligible for contesting the next elections in the country, said the apex court.
