The Lahore High Court has issued a written order on the dismissal of a petition challenging the lifelong disqualification of politicians. The petition contested the extension of the disqualification period from lifetime to five years, but the court ruled that the amendment aligns with the Constitution and is not beyond its authority.
The petitioner, Shabbir Ismail, had challenged the amendment under Clause 2 of Section 232 of the Elections Act 2017. However, the court affirmed the amendment’s validity, stating that it does not conflict with Article 62 of the Constitution.
Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan, in a detailed ten-page decision, emphasized that fundamental rights, as per Article 8 of the Constitution, cannot be deprived. The ruling underlines the compatibility of the five-year disqualification law with constitutional principles, particularly those outlined in Article 62.
Although the petitioner referenced a previous interpretation of Article 62(1)(f) by a seven-member Supreme Court bench, the Lahore High Court’s decision solidifies the validity of the amendment, establishing a legal precedent for future challenges concerning disqualification laws.
