SC returns petition against lifetime disqualification of legislators

The Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to admit for hearing a petition challenging the lifetime disqualification of lawmakers under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The Supreme Court registrar returned the petition filed by Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Ahsan Bhoon by raising objections on it.

The registrar stated that a larger bench of the top court had already settled the matter and a petition seeking review of the verdict given by the bench had also be dismissed.

The registrar further added that once the apex court handed down a verdict in a matter, a new petition could not be filed against it.

Giving his reaction, Mr Ahsan Bhoon said that they refile the petition after removing the objections raised by the registar.

In his petition, Ahsan Bhoon had said the apex court should define the parameters for the use of Article 62(1)(f) in its verdicts. He suggested that an election challenged under this article be set aside only. The SCBA president further proposed that the penalty of life disqualification be handed only in election matters.

The SCBA chief was seeking the termination of lifetime disqualification penalty against lawmakers. The petition contends that the rule for lifetime disqualification should only be applied to the extent of electoral disputes.

The petition further demanded the court interpret articles 184 and 99 of the Constitution, while it also asked to make the federal government a partner in this case.

It is noteworthy that the Supreme Court had disqualified former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and estranged PTI leader Jahangir Tareen under Article 62(1)(f). The article stipulates that a person cannot be qualified as a member of the national or provincial legislatures if he is not ‘Sadiq’ and ‘Ameen’.