ISLAMABAD – The Supreme Court has summoned former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s former secretary general Jahangir Tareen on Tuesday (tomorrow) in a move to clear the air on their disqualification period under Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution.
The apex court issued the notices to the two former officer bearers, who had been disqualified under this Article, on Sunday during the hearing of appeals regarding different constitutional questions including interpretation of Article 62 (1)(f).
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The article does not specify any time period after which the disqualified person can take part in elections.
As per the details, deputy registrar of Supreme Court’s Lahore Registry sent notice to Sharif, while Tareen has been sent notice in Islamabad.
A five-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Mina Saqib Nisar, comprising Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed, Justice Umar Ata Bandial and Justice Sajjad Ali Shah will hear 17 appeals against disqualification of lawmakers.
The interpretation of the Article, which was much discussed after Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification by the apex court in the Panamagate verdict, will help determine the period of punishment, making it clear whether a number of lawmakers have been disqualified for life or time-specific.
The appeals are pending with the apex court for over one year as these were last taken up by the Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali.
During the hearings, Jamali had wondered how anyone could be barred from participating in elections for life under Articles 62 and 63, adding that they could again become qualified after reforming themselves during a time-period.
