Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan’s fate hangs in balance in Pak; SC to hear lifetime disqualification

Islamabad: Ahead of the general elections in Pakistan in February 2024, the Supreme Court of the country on Tuesday will decide upon the fate of politicians in the country whose case is in court.

On January 2, the Supreme Court of Pakistan will decide on the lifetime disqualification of politicians, including those of two former prime ministers of the country, Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan.

Three-time Pak PM Nawaz Sharif is vying for the top job for the fourth time in Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s nomination papers for the Pakistan elections 2024 were rejected by the Election Commission of Pakistan on “moral grounds”. The nomination papers of other senior members of Imran Khan’s party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), were also rejected.

Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif’s fate hangs in balance

The Supreme Court of Pakistan’s seven-member bench headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa will decide on the period of disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution and the amendments in the Elections Act 2017.

In 2018, a five-member bench of the apex court had declared that disqualification under Article 62(I)(f) was for life.

However, amendments were made in the Elections Act, 2017 in 2023, which set a maximum of five years for barring a disqualified politician.

Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif cases 

In 2017, Nawaz Sharif was disqualified in the Panama Papers case, while Imran Khan was disqualified in the Toshakhana case in 2023.

While Imran Khan had appealed against the disqualification, Nawaz Sharif was disqualified for life until the period was reduced to five years.

Meanwhile, PTI said on Monday that it will move to the election tribunals to challenge the rejection of the nomination papers of its 2024 general election candidates, including that of founder Imran Khan.