SCBA again seeks SC’s review of MPs' lifelong ineligibility plea

Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Ahsan Bhoon on Friday filed an appeal in the Supreme Court (SC) against the objections raised by the court’s own registrar to the petition he had drafted earlier, in which he had sought the apex court’s review of lifelong disqualification of a public office holder under article 62 1-F of the constitution, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

In his appeal, Bhoon argued that he had filed the last petition only to seek the court’s explanation of a constitutional point. “Therefore, there was no justification for the objections raised to it,” he opined. 

SCBA president pointed out that the SC was not a trial court, and that it was its own verdicts which had made a declaration by a court of law necessary for disqualification under the aforementioned article. “Therefore, it is my request to the honourable court to remove these objections and fix his application for the hearing,” Bhoon wrote in his appeal. 

The SC had, on February 1, 2022, declined to admit for hearing the petition challenging the lifelong disqualification of lawmakers under Article 62(1) (f) of the constitution.

The court registrar returned the petition filed by Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Ahsan Bhoon by raising objections to 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 been 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, Ahsan Bhoon said that he would refile the petition after answering the objections raised by the registrar.

Reporter Kifayat Ali Shah