SC sets aside lifetime disqualification, withdraws 2018 verdict

Islamabad:  The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) on Monday set aside lifetime disqualification under Article 62 (1) (f) in a landmark judgment.

Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who led a seven-member bench, announced the verdict reserved earlier after hearing arguments from the both sides.

The judgment has paved the way for PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif, Instehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) Chief Jahangir Khan Tarin and many other political leaders like them.

The top court withdrew its previous decision announced against PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif.

The bench, with a majority vote of 6-1, set aside the earlier decision, with Justice Yahya Afridi dissenting from his fellow judges but aligning with the apex court's initial judgment.

The recent ruling by the Supreme Court has overturned its previous landmark judgment in the Samiullah Baloch case, declaring that individuals disqualified under Article 62 (1)(f) cannot be barred for a lifetime from participating in elections.

This legal development stems from a complex situation arising after Parliament amended the Elections Act 2017. The amendments stipulated a five-year disqualification period for politicians, in contrast to the Supreme Court's prior ruling, which had characterized disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) as "permanent." The latest verdict marks a significant shift in the interpretation of the law regarding the duration of disqualification for individuals falling under this specific provision.