After having failed to get decision from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in his favour, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda on Friday challenged his lifelong disqualification by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the Supreme Court (SC), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The PTI leader, in his petition submitted to the apex court through Advocate Wasim Sajjad, made the ECP and complainants against him respondents in the case, and argued that the election commission had no right to disqualify him from holding any public life for life.  “The ECP is not a court of law which can declare somebody ineligible,” he opined. 

Vawda went on to add that the IHC, too, dismissed his appeal against the ECP’s decision in haste. “Therefore, it is prayed to the honourable court to declare the election commission’s order null and void and reinstate me as a senator,” reads PTI leader’s petition.   

Only two days ago, on February 16 (Wednesday), 24News TV channel had reported that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had thrown out a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda against his lifelong disqualification from holding any public office by the ECP, saying it was inadmissible for the hearing.

Chief Justice (CJ) Athar Minallah, on the occasion, asked Vawda’s counsel as to what should be the consequences of submitting a ‘fake’ affidavit. “The Supreme Court (SC), in its verdict, had gone one step ahead and said that criminal proceedings should be initiated in such a case,” he remarked.

Wasim Sajjad, counsel for the PTI leader, on the other hand, was of the view that his client could not be disqualified for life only on the basis of submitting a fake ‘affidavit’. 

Around nine days back on February 9, 2022, the ECP had declared PTI Senator Faisal Vawda disqualified for concealing his dual nationality from it at the time of submitting his nomination papers in 2018.

The ECP disqualified him under Article 62-1-F of the Constitution, and hence slapped a life-long ban on him as he could not contest election all his life. 

According to the decision, Mr Vawda will have to return all benefits and salaries in two months. The ECP also ordered the withdrawal of the March 10, 2021 notification which installed him as a senator. 

 

Reporter Amanat Gishkori