SC’s historic verdict disqualifies Nawaz Sharif for life under Article 62(1)(f)

In a historic verdict, the Supreme Court (SC) ruled on Friday that those disqualified under Article 62(1)(f) of the constitution would be disqualified for life.

Under the Article, both Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Jahangir Tareen, who were disqualified last year by the SC, cannot hold public office for life. Both of them cannot run for elections either.

The important verdict, announced by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, was passed unanimously by the bench. The verdict states that any public servant or any member of parliament will be permanently disqualified under Article 62.

This ruling by the Sc was met by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) female workers and activists  protesting outside the top court premises.

A five-member bench of the top court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar, comprising Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, Justice Bandial, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, resumed the hearing today.

On February 14, the bench had ruled that the disqualification will continue for as long as the declaration signed by electoral candidates declaring them honest holds. The bench added  that the 18th Amendment, passed in 2010, did not determine a time period for disqualification.

After Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf  in his arguments said that the constitution had not stated the length of the disqualification period, the bench had reserved their verdict that was announced today.

Article 62(1)(f) reads: "A person shall not be qualified to be elected or chosen as a member of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) unless-...he is sagacious, righteous and non-profligate, honest and ameen, there being no declaration to the contrary by a court of law."