SC invites suggestions before its hearing of appeals in MP’s lifetime ineligibility case

In a development in the case of differences between the Supreme Court (SC) verdict on the lifetime ineligibility of a member of parliament (MP) under Article 62 (1) (f) of the constitution and amendments made to the Election Act, 2017, an advertisement has been published in newspapers on the order of the Supreme Court (SC), reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.

In the advertisement, it has been stated that discrepancy between the apex court verdict and an amendment to the Election Act has raised a question over the duration of ineligibility of an MP.

It has been further stated that since the SC verdict in the case may have ramifications for the people contesting the next general elections, all such candidates, if they wish, could file their comprehensive statements to the court in writing, and a seven-member bench of the SC would hear the appeals filed in the case on January 2, 2024.   

Around a week ago, noting a discrepancy between the SC judgment and the amendment made to the Election Act, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Qazi Faez Isa had said that the Supreme Court’s decision and the amendments could not co-exist.

The CJP made these remarks while heading a three-member bench, which heard the disqualification case of a former MPA of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Mir Badshah Khan Qaisrani, who was disqualified for concealing assets in 2014.

Justice Isa had said that since these discrepancies could result in a “confusion” in the upcoming general elections, therefore, he referred the matter to the judges’ committee for the constitution of a bench to determine the term of disqualification.

A joint session of the parliament had on July 26, 2023 approved amendments to the Election Act 2017.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Murtaza Javed Abbasi presented the Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Reporter: Rozeena Ali