Supreme Court Expedites Resolution of Lifetime Disqualification Case

Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa has announced the Supreme Court’s intention to expedite proceedings on the matter of lifetime disqualification to avoid confusion for returning officers, especially with the upcoming general elections scheduled in a little over a month.

During a session of the seven-member larger bench, which included several justices, Attorney General of Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan expressed the desire for the court to reconsider the law due to “certain contradictions” in a previous judgment by Samiullah Baloch. While supporting the amendment limiting disqualification to five years, the Attorney General urged the court to review its earlier ruling on Nawaz Sharif’s lifetime disqualification.

Respondents in favor of lifetime disqualification, including petitioner Sanaullah Baloch, advocate Khurram Raza, and Usman Karim, affirmed their stance during the proceedings. However, Mir Badshah Hussain Qaiserani’s counsel Saqib Jillani opposed it, aligning with the Attorney General’s position and expressing support for the existing law legislated by the federal government.