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KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) decision to permanently ban former PTI leader Faisal Vawada was overruled by the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Friday.
Following Vawada’s apology before the court, a three-member panel led by Pakistan’s Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial made the verdict public.
The top court gave the former federal minister two options: acknowledge his error and accept disqualification under article 63 (1)-C, or the court will act under clause 62 (1)-F. The former federal minister appeared before the court today and submitted an apology.
Vawda had appealed and challenged the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision that had resulted in his lifetime ban (ECP).
The former PTI leader said in his petition that the electoral body lacked the authority to declare him permanently ineligible. He believed that his appeal had been swiftly denied by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Faisal Vawda had been permanently disqualified by the ECP for filing a false affidavit, according to the ruling.
The IHC had also rejected his argument, saying that providing a false affidavit carries serious repercussions and that a ruling from the SC’s larger bench, in which numerous lawmakers had been found ineligible, was also available.
Vawada was dismissed for hiding his dual citizenship by an ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja, and given two months to repay the salary and other perks he had received as a cabinet and member of the National Assembly. He lost his senatorial notification as well.
