Faisal Vawda lifelong disqualification challenged in Supreme Court Restored as Senator

Faisal Vovda leader of  ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf  PTI  on Friday challenged the Election Commission decision to disqualify him for life in the Supreme Court.

Faisal Wawda's lifelong disqualification challenged in Supreme Court
Faisal Wawda's lifelong disqualification challenged in Supreme Court


Former Senator Faisal vawda in his appeal against the decisions of the Election Commission & the High Court said that the Election Commission didn't have the power to disqualify him for life as the Election Commission is not a competent court of law. According to Faisal vawda, the Islamabad High Court hastily dismissed his appeal.


The lawyer for Faisal Vawda in this case is Wasim Sajjad a former chairman of the Senate. One of the few legal questions raised in Faisal Vawda petition is whether Election Commission can disqualify a member of the Assembly under Article 62F of the Constitution.


It should be noted that the Election Commission has declared Faisal Vawda guilty of submitting false affidavit and declared him ineligible for life. Last year, Faisal Vawda resigned from the National Assembly and became a senator in March 2021. Faisal Vawda had resigned at a time when his dual citizenship case was pending before the Islamabad High Court.


It may be recalled that earlier the Islamabad High Court had rejected the petition filed by Faisal Vovda against the decision of the Election Commission.


The court said that swearing an oath has serious consequences & there is a decision of a larger bench of the Supreme Court in this regard in which several members of parliament were disqualified.


It should be noted that a few days ago the Election Commission disqualified Faisal Vawda for life under Article 62F of the Constitution for submitting a false affidavit regarding renunciation of US-citizenship while submitting nomination papers for general elections to be held in 2018. Was declared.


Former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif & Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf PTI leader Jahangir Tareen were also disqualified by the Supreme Court under the same law.


ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court IHC  Athar Minallah on Wednesday heard the petition of Faisal Vovda against the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). He said that his client was disqualified by the Election Commission on the basis of false affidavit.


He said that besides disqualifying Faisal Vawda, the Election Commission has also ordered to return all the salaries & benefits taken from him as Member National Assembly and Federal Minister within two months.


Wasim Sajjad said that his client had resigned as a member of the National Assembly on March 3 last year, he had resigned as a member of the National Assembly & he was also disqualified as a senator.


He said that the Election Commission is not a Court of Law & it does not have the power to disqualify any Member of Parliament.


Petitioner counsel contended that  Election Commission could not rule on disqualification under Article 62F of the Constitution.


Addressing the petitioner counsel Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that he was talking on technical grounds then tell me where did the Election Commission make any mistake in announcing this decision?


Addressing Faisal Vavda lawyer, the Chief Justice said that he should also tell his client good intentions that when he filed his affidavit to participate in the 2018 elections he did nt have dual citizenship. He also asked them to state whether they have given the certificate of renunciation of American citizenship or not. What is its history? Does the Supreme Court inquire into a false affidavit? The Chief Justice also raised  question of whether the Election Commission would have inquired & referred the matter to the Supreme Court.