How can a liar be disqualified for life and a rebel for five years? remarks CJP in lifetime disqualification case

ISLAMABAD (92 News) - Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, while hearing the lifetime disqualification case on Thursday, questioned that how a liar can be disqualified for life and a rebel for five years.

He observed that no one has noticed this point. "The parliament has not made these amendments of its choice, but they were enforced on it," he remarked.

The CJP observed that those who made the country hostage are again contesting the election. "From where these items were inducted in the constitution? No one is telling about it. Even a lawyer does not talk about the dictator. A dictator asks the parliament to make these amendments otherwise he will continue to cling to the power. The parliament agrees to the demand to remove the dictator," he observed.

"Can the wisdom of five gentlemen undo the sagacious legislation by the 326 members of the parliament? The laws formulated by the elected representatives cannot be looked down upon."

The CJP remarked that the dictator got approved a law to declared the politicians disqualify. "Why did the dictators not put the condition of 'Sadiq' and 'Amin' for themselves? Was the disqualification law applied to any dictator?"

He observed a constitutional amendment was made here at gunpoint and the 18th amendment was just its endorsement.

Justice Musrrat Hilali remarked that whether there was a standard for the judge who declares someone 'Sadiq' and 'Amin'. "Is the judge declaring someone 'Sadiq' and 'Amin' himself qualifies this standard?" she questioned.

Justice Mansoor Shah remarked the law had been inducted and disqualification would be for five years. "A person making a wrong statement in the nomination papers can be called that he is not 'Amin', but it cannot be stated that you are ineligible to contest the elections for life. Is it not a strange matter that a criminal can again contest the election, but a person who made a mistake of civil nature cannot," he observed.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar observed that no one had challenged the amendment to the Election Act. Counsels Khurram Raza, Usman Karim and Asghar Sabazwari supported the lifetime disqualification.

Later, the case was adjourned until 9am on Friday.