ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan today disqualified PTI Senator Faisal Vawda. PTI Senator Vawda was accused of lying about dual citizenship in his nomination papers for the 2018 General Election.
After a delay of more than two years, the Election Commission of Pakistan announced its verdict today, disqualifying Faisal Vawda for life.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja announced the reserved verdict on Wednesday. It ruled that Vawda had submitted a fake undertaking to the electoral body during the 2018 general elections. The PTI leader had lied about his dual citizenship.
The ECP court instructed Vawda to return, within two weeks, all the salaries and privileges he received from the government during his term as member of the National Assembly.
The ECP also directed Vawda to return within two months the salary and other benefits he had received as a minister and parliamentarian. It also withdrew the notification declaring Vawda’s victory on a Senate seat in polls held last year.
The vote Vawda had cast in the Senate polls held on March 10 as a member of the National Assembly was also “invalid”, according to the short order announced by the chief election commissioner.
The ECP said Vawda had submitted a “false affidavit” with his nomination papers.
Disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution means the PTI leader will not be able to contest elections again. The ECP had reserved its judgement on petitions seeking Vawda’s disqualification on Dec 23 last year. The ECP bench had during the last hearing given Vawda the last chance to defend himself and explain his position.
Vawda’s dual nationality
A news report revealed that Vawda filed his nomination papers for the 2018 General Election on June 11, 2018, when he still held US nationality. His papers were approved on June 18, 2018. The federal minister had filed papers to give up his US citizenship on June 22, 2018 and he was issued a certificate on June 25. 2019. The process usually takes weeks or even months, according to The News.
A petition was filed for his disqualification under section Article 62(i)(f). The law deems it necessary for all members of Parliament to be ‘sadiq’ and ‘ameen’. They are prohibited from concealing information about their assets.
