SC grants Sharif’s counsel week-long time for preparation in disqualification limit case

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday approved the plea filed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s counsel and granted him week-long time to prepare for the case pertaining to determination of the time period of parliamentarian’s disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) of the constitution.  

A five-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, is hearing a number of petitions filed by members of the parliament, seeking to determine the time period of disqualification.

At the outset of hearing, Sharif’s counsel Azam Tarar appeared before the court on behalf of his client and submitted a plea to seek time to prepare the case.

The bench accepted the plea and directed him to appear in the case by next week.

The hearing was still underway.

The petitions revolve around the question as whether the disqualification of elected representatives should be for lifetime or a specific period under Article 62(1)(f) of the constitution.

After skipping last hearing on Tuesday, the top court had reissued a notice to ousted premier Nawaz Sharif to appear before it either in person or through a counsel today (Wednesday).

The court has appointed Advocate Munir A Malik and Barrister Syed Ali Zaffar as amicus curiae (impartial adviser) to assist the bench in the case.

The apex court had earlier issued notices to Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen to appear in person or through their counsel to submit their response in the case.

In the Tuesday hearing, Tareen appeared before the bench. However, Sharif did not show up.

In his brief media talk before his appearance in court, Tareen gave weight to determination of disqualification period, as he said, it is imperative to know the duration of disqualification.

Both leaders were disqualified by the Supreme Court under Article 62(1)(f) which asserts that a parliamentarian should be “sadiq and ameen” (honest and righteous).

Representing a petition, counsel Babar Awan contended that the bench had to refer to the parliament even if a comma to change in the Constitution as its the sole responsibility of assembly to make and amend the laws.

To which, Justice Saqib Nisar noted that the parliament was beholden to the constitution.

The hearing was then adjourned till today.

The matter has attained immense significance against the backdrop of the disqualifications of the thrice-elected premier and the central PTI leader because its outcome will decide their political fate.

It will also put the controversy surrounding the period for disqualification of a member of parliament to rest once and for all.

Sharif and Tareen were disqualified under the Article 62(1)(f) for lifetime for being dishonest.

On July 28, last year, the apex court disqualified Sharif from office on the grounds he did not disclose a salary from his son’s Dubai-based company – the money Sharif says he never received.

On December 15, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, a three-judge bench disqualified PTI leader Tareen under Article 62 (1)(f) of the Constitution for deliberately submitting a false statement in the Supreme Court to conceal his property in the United Kingdom.