Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial while hearing a petition seeking the removal of disqualification of Faisal Vawda for life has remarked that the former federal minister should admit his mistake and be disqualified under Section 63(1)(C) or else the court will proceed in the case under 62(1)(F).
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ayesha Malik and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah heard the petition. Former federal minister Faisal Vawda had approached the Supreme Court in January after the Islamabad High Court had dismissed his petition against his disqualification.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Bandial remarked that there was enough material before the court for the disqualification of Faisal Vawda for life. CJP said that Vawda will have to admit his mistake in writing. The CJP said that Vawda should appear before the Supreme Court and say that he changed the date of dual citizenship.
Faisal Vawda’s lawyer Waseem Sajjad took the stance that the Election Commission was not a court of law and did not have the power to disqualify anyone for life.
Justice Ayesha Malik said that if the Election Commission did not have the power then the Islamabad High Court has the power to declare disqualification for life. She also said that Vawda told many lies to hide one lie.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah remarked that why can’t the Supreme Court disqualify it for life from the evidence before it. He said that Vawda had submitted the affidavit not for the job but for the elections and it was a condition, to be honest to contest elections.
The Supreme Court adjourned the hearing of the case and summoned Faisal Vawda in his personal capacity tomorrow.
