The Lahore High Court has issued a written order on the dismissal of a petition filed against lifelong disqualification of politicians, dismissing a petition challenging the validity of the disqualification to five years. It has declared that the law aligns with the Constitution and is not ultra vires.
The decision comes after a petitioner, Shabbir Ismail, contested the amendment that extended the disqualification period from lifetime to five years. However, the court upheld the amendment, stating that Clause 2 of Section 232 of the Elections Act 2017 is not inconsistent with Article 62 of the Constitution.
Justice Shahid Bilal Hasan issued a detailed written decision spanning 10 pages, affirming that under Article 8 of the Constitution, fundamental rights cannot be deprived of. The ruling emphasizes the compatibility of the five-year disqualification law with constitutional provisions, highlighting its alignment with the principles enshrined in Article 62.
The petitioner argued that Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution had already been interpreted by a seven-member bench of the Supreme Court. However, the Lahore High Court's decision asserts the validity of the amendment, setting a precedent for future legal challenges regarding disqualification laws.
