SC rules disqualification under Article 62 (1)(f) is for life

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled on Friday that lawmakers disqualified under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution cannot contest elections for the rest of their life. Justice Umar Ata Bandial authored and read out the operative part of the verdict. The judgment says a candidate in an election found guilty of misconduct falling within the terms of Article 62(1)(f) cannot be compared to the case of an ex-convict under Article 63(1)(h) considering he has not paid a personal price for his delinquent act. Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed wrote an additional note saying the apex court could not override the Constitution in any way. He said not setting a time-frame for disqualification under Article 62 (1)(f) had been deliberate. The five-member bench, headed by the Chief Justice of Pakistan, hearing the case had reserved its verdict in February. The then prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for public office on July 28, 2017, for concealing in his nomination papers the income receivable from his son's company in the UAE.