Supreme Court takes up hearing of lifetime disqualification case today

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan’s seven-member bench is set to address the issue of lifetime disqualification of politicians as per Article 62(1)(f) of the country’s constitution.

Chaired by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, the bench includes Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin, Justice Jamal Mandokhail, Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, and Justice Musarrat Hilali.

Scheduled for today (Tuesday) at 11:30 am, the bench will delve into the case of lifetime disqualifications.

Notably, PMLN’s Nawaz Sharif and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party leader Jahangir Tareen faced disqualification from holding public office in 2017 under Article 62(1)(f).

Article 62(1)(f) outlines stringent criteria for qualification as a lawmaker, emphasizing qualities like sagacity, righteousness, non-profligacy, honesty, and being ameen without any contradictory court declaration.

Unlike disqualifications stemming from other laws for serious offenses, a disqualification under 62(1)(f) is more severe, resulting in a lifetime ban. While individuals disqualified under other laws could re-enter Parliament after five years from their conviction, this specific disqualification remains permanent.

In Nawaz Sharif’s case, the Supreme Court’s 2017 ruling cited his failure to meet the criteria of honesty and ameen due to concealing potential income from his son’s firm.

Although a law passed by the PDM-controlled parliament aimed to reduce disqualification periods to five years for all, there has been lingering uncertainty.

PTI leaders have recently affirmed that despite his acquittal, Nawaz Sharif remains ineligible for public office and hence cannot hold a parliamentary or prime ministerial position.