SC larger bench
reserves verdict
in lifetime
disqualification case

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ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Friday reserved the verdict on the lifetime disqualification case — an important judgment that will determine whether lawmakers’ ineligibility to contest polls is for life or five years under the amended Election Act 2017 in line with Article 62 (1)(F).

The reserved verdict, however, will not be announced today. Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa said the court will try to come up with a short order but “probably not today”.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan
The Supreme Court of Pakistan

The hearing of the case resumed earlier today and its proceedings were broadcast live on the apex court’s website and YouTube channel.

The top court took notice of the contradictions regarding the duration of disqualification and an SC verdict during a past hearing on a petition filed by former Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) provincial lawmaker Sardar Meer Badshah Khan Qaisrani last month.

Qaisrani had challenged his lifetime disqualification over a fake degree in 2007.

A seven-member bench — headed by CJP Isa and comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and Justice Musarrat Hilali — presided over the hearing.

Seven-member SC bench hears lifetime disqualification case on Jan 4.
Seven-member SC bench hears lifetime disqualification case on Jan 4.

“We will try to come up with a shorter order as soon as possible. Probably not today but it will be very soon God willing,” Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa remarked at the conclusion of the hearing.

A seven-member larger bench, headed by the CJP and comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali, conducted yet another marathon hearing in the case. The proceedings were broadcast live on the apex court’s website.

The SC is seeking to determine once and for all the raging debate on whether aspirants disqualified under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution could contest polls in light of the amendments in the Elections Act 2017.

The law is the same provision under which former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party Chairman Jahangir Tareen were disqualified.