ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial today said the lifetime disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) of the constitution is a draconian law.
The CJP remarked this during the proceedings of a petition of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda who challenged his lifetime disqualification. A three-member bench under the chief justice heard the petition.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Vawda’s counsel Wasim Sajjad told the court that his client contested the election in 2018. Two years later, a disqualification petition was filed against him for submitting a false affidavit.
Commenting on his argument, the CJP Bandial remarked that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has the authority to probe false affidavits.
Even If the apex court declares the disqualification order null and void but the facts will still remain the same, he added.
The question is that whether the commission is authorized to disqualify a person. The commission has apparently made a correct review of the facts in the Faisal Vawda case, Justice Bandial stated.
Further, the chief justice remarked, “Article 62(1)(f )of lifetime disqualification is the draconian law.”
Afterward, the court said Vawda’s case will be heard cautiously and adjourned the hearing till October 6.
