The Supreme Court’s decision to declare lifetime disqualification under Article 62(1)(F) invalid and unlawful seems to have divided the top leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
The permanent disqualification of lawmakers was eliminated by a seven-member Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa. This allowed Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), and Jehangir Khan Tareen, the leader of the Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP), to run in the general election, which is set for February 8.
By a vote of 6 to 1 (Yahya Afridi, J. dissenting), it is decided and declared that: i. Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is not a self-executive provision as it does not, for reasons to be recorded later and subject to amplifications and explanations made therein.The court ruling that was delivered the day before does not, by itself, identify the court of law that is to make the declaration indicated therein, nor does it provide for any procedure for making, or any term for disqualification incurred by, such a declaration.”
PTI politician and eminent attorney Hamid Khan praised the ruling in response, stating that it will advance democracy in the nation.
Speaking on Monday’s Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath broadcast on Geo News, Khan stated that the people should choose what is “good” and “bad” in elections, not the courts.
“To prevent any political party from participating in elections will be an undemocratic act,” he declared.
The leader of the PTI also expressed hope that the courts will reinstate the party’s famous electoral symbol, the bat, which was removed following the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) ruling that the party’s internal polls were “unconstitutional.”
Concerning the purported denial of a level playing field to PTI candidates, Khan further stated that he expected the court to uphold justice in this case.
However, PTI leader Hammad Azhar criticized the Supreme Court’s decision, claiming that while individuals facing bogus accusations and cases were prohibited from running for office, “blue-eyed” people were now allowed to participate in polls.
“One cannot run for office if they are the target of baseless accusations and fraudulent cases. However, individuals found guilty and deemed ineligible by the Supreme Court were deemed to be eligible to run for office. “Wow!” he said on his
