SC rules against lifetime disqualification
Justice Yahya Afridi dissents from verdict, says SC’s 2018 judgment ‘legally valid’
ISLAMABAD
The Supreme Court of Pakistan declared life-long disqualification invalid under Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution.
The lifetime disqualification of Nawaz Sharif and Jahangir Tareen has ended and they are now eligible to participate in the elections.
Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa announced the decision in the case regarding the determination of the period of disqualification for life.
The 7-member bench of the Supreme Court delivered the decision in the ratio of 1-6 and the member of the bench, Justice Yahya Afridi, disagreed with the majority decision.
After the decision, Nawaz Sharif, leader of Muslim League (N) and Jahangir Tareen, head of Istehkam e Pakistan Party (IPP), will be able to contest the February 8 election.
A 7-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa heard the case, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi , Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Mandokhel, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar Naqvi and Justice Musrat Hilali were among the 7-member larger bench.
According to the jurists, there is no period of disqualification in Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution. written but in the past the Supreme Court had interpreted it as lifelong disqualification.
