PAK SC BARS SHARIF FROM CONTESTING ELECTIONS FOR LIFE
Justice Umar Ata Bandial describes the ban as ‘permanent’
ISLAMABAD : Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Friday barred former premier Nawaz Sharif from participating in polls for life, dealing a severe blow to his ruling PML-N party ahead of crucial general elections due this year.
A five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Saqib Nisar gave the ruling in response to several petitions on the length of the disqualification under Article 62 (1)(f) of the Constitution, the provision used to strip Sharif of his office last year.
The ruling was the latest in a series of blows to Sharif, 67, who was disqualified by the court for dishonesty last July. The court also barred Sharif from holding the top post in the PML-N in February. The political veteran maintains his grip on the party though he is no longer its leader.
Sharif, also facing a corruption trial, described the verdict as “vindictive” and said he had expected such a ruling from the court because of the bias against him. Speaking at an informal gathering of PML-N leaders at his residence in Lahore, he said, “I have no qualms in saying that (I am) the sole target.”
He was quoted by Geo News channel as saying: “The masses cannot be deprived of their leadership through courts. Obstacles were there in the past as well, the PML-N successfully overcame those and will keep struggling with the same spirit.”
Addressing an event in Muzaffarabad soon after the ruling, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the biggest decisions about politicians are made by the people. “The decision, at the end of the day, will be made by the public,” he said, adding the matter will soon go to the people during the elections.
The ruling also applied to the former secretary general of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jahangir Tareen, who too cannot hold public office for life.
Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution, introduced by the regime of former dictator Zia-ul-Haq, states all MPs must be “sadiq” and “ameen” or honest and righteous. Experts have said this loosely defined provision has for long been used by the establishment to target politicians.
Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz, widely seen as his political heir, said the verdict to disqualify him for life had come because it isn’t possible to defeat him in elections. Addressing a convention of PML-N workers, she said this wasn’t the first time Sharif had been disqualified or punished but he had always emerged stronger whenever efforts were made to weaken him.
“Nawaz has been disqualified for life, he was barred from heading his party. But he resides in the hearts of the people,” she said. Opponents had tried to stop Sharif for the past 30 years but they could not succeed, she added.