ASGHAR ALI MUBARAK
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday revoked the lifetime disqualification of former PTI senator and minister Faisal Vawda and instead disqualified him for one term (five years) under Article 63 (1)(c) of the constitution after he admitted he misstated his dual nationality.
According to the Supreme Court, Vawda will remain disqualified as lawmaker and member of parliament for one term only, meaning he qualifies to contest the next general election and future Senate elections.
Supreme Court’s three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and consisting of Justice Manzoor and Justice Ayesha heard the petition of Vawda.
During the hearing, speaking to Faisal Vawda, the chief justice said: “You should say that according to the law of that time, you were not eligible to become a member of the assembly. If you admit the mistake, you will be disqualified from the commencement of the term of the current assembly”.
Justice Mansoor Ali Shah asked when did he renounce the citizenship and when did he resign from the assembly membership?
Faisal Vawda said that “the dual citizenship was given up on June 25, 2018, while he resigned from the seat of the National Assembly on March 30, 2021.”
On this occasion, the former federal minister also sought an unconditional apology from the Supreme Court.
During the hearing, the chief justice said: “you misled everyone for three years”, “first apologize in front of the court” and then say “I resign”.
The chief justice said that “Faisal Vawda was a member of the National Assembly for three years”, and “the purpose of the court is not to embarrass you by calling you here”.
The top judge remarked that “if you apologize before the court and resign in good faith”, then the disqualification will be for five years”, if you do not resign, you will be prosecuted under Section 62. “
Faisal Vawda announced to tender his resignation immediately and said that he had no intention to submit a false affidavit”,
He surrendered himself to the court and said that he will accept the order of the court.
