SC revokes lifetime disqualification, paves the way for key political figures

The court declared that individuals disqualified under Article 62 (1)(f) cannot be permanently barred from contesting elections.

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has overturned the lifetime disqualification of lawmakers, bringing a ray of hope for political heavyweights eyeing participation in the upcoming polls on February 8.

The court declared that individuals disqualified under Article 62 (1)(f) cannot be permanently barred from contesting elections. This pivotal ruling set aside the court’s earlier judgment in the Samiullah Baloch case and emphasized that no one should face a lifetime ban from running for office.

The seven-member larger bench, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, conducted live-streamed hearings on the case, culminating in a 6-1 majority verdict, with Justice Yahya Afridi dissenting from his colleagues.

The legal intricacies emerged following amendments to the Elections Act 2017 by the parliament, limiting the disqualification period for politicians to five years instead of a lifetime, contrary to the previous Supreme Court order.

The latest decision carries significant implications, allowing figures like Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Jahangir Tareen, chief of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), to participate in the electoral process, having faced lifetime disqualification.

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Chief Justice Isa highlighted the urgency of the release of the order, considering the issuance of the election schedule. In a previous hearing, he emphasized that a lifelong ban from parliament was “against Islam,” citing a verse from Surah Sajdah, which emphasizes that individuals are not inherently bad, but their deeds define them.

This development not only marks a significant shift in the legal landscape but also opens doors for broader political participation and representation, setting the stage for a more inclusive democratic process in Pakistan.

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