The Supreme Court (SC) has revoked former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda's lifetime disqualification after he gave an 'unconditional apology' and 'admitted his mistake' in not stating his dual nationality.
The decision to revoke his lifetime disqualification from contesting elections was taken on Friday by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and consisting of Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ayesha A. Malik.
While the lifetime ban on Vawda has been lifted, he still remains disqualified under Article 63(1)(c) according to which he will remain disqualified for one term only, and can participate in the next general elections.
On February 9 the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had imposed a lifetime ban on Faisal Vawda barring him from contesting elections under Article 62(1)(f) —which was also used to disqualify Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif— for not disclosing his dual citizenship, which goes against the electoral law of Pakistan.
In today's hearing, Vawda told the court that he fully accepted and regretted his mistake, and was issuing an unconditional apology. He said that he 'had not intended' to submit a false affidavit, and that he would accept whatever punishment the court deemed fit.
"If you apologise before the court with good intentions, then your disqualification will be limited to five years. In case you do not resign, then the court will proceed under Article 62(1)(f)," the chief justice said. Following Vawda's apology, the CJP noted, "We will revoke your lifetime ban as the court has repeatedly given relief to senators."
The decision to revoke his lifetime disqualification from contesting elections was taken on Friday by a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and consisting of Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ayesha A. Malik.
While the lifetime ban on Vawda has been lifted, he still remains disqualified under Article 63(1)(c) according to which he will remain disqualified for one term only, and can participate in the next general elections.
On February 9 the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had imposed a lifetime ban on Faisal Vawda barring him from contesting elections under Article 62(1)(f) —which was also used to disqualify Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif— for not disclosing his dual citizenship, which goes against the electoral law of Pakistan.
In today's hearing, Vawda told the court that he fully accepted and regretted his mistake, and was issuing an unconditional apology. He said that he 'had not intended' to submit a false affidavit, and that he would accept whatever punishment the court deemed fit.
"If you apologise before the court with good intentions, then your disqualification will be limited to five years. In case you do not resign, then the court will proceed under Article 62(1)(f)," the chief justice said. Following Vawda's apology, the CJP noted, "We will revoke your lifetime ban as the court has repeatedly given relief to senators."