With the general elections fast approaching, the Supreme Court on Friday resumed hearing a set of petitions seeking to determine whether the disqualification period for a lawmaker was for five years or a lifetime.
The Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, is hearing a case to determine whether individuals disqualified under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution can contest elections after the amendments in the Elections Act 2017. The legal debate arose due to conflicting judgments, with a 2018 ruling stating that disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) is permanent, and a 2023 amendment specifying a five-year electoral disqualification period. The court is addressing the constitutional amendments’ peculiar circumstances and potential disconnect between Article 62 and Article 63 of the Constitution. Jahangir Khan Tareen’s lawyer argued against a lifetime disqualification for civil liability.