ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court of Pakistan revoked lifetime ban that barred former PTI leader Faisal Vawda from contesting elections after he tendered an unconditional apology before court. A three-member apex court bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ayesha Malik heard plea against Vawda’s lifelong disqualification ruling of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Chief Justice had summoned Vawda to court today for giving him chance to apologise and accept his mistake as he had been lying to courts for three-long years.

As he appeared before court, former federal minister told court that he apologises unconditionally and would accept any punishment that is awarded to him. Accepting his apology, apex court ruled that Vawda was disqualified under Article 63(1)(c) and not Article 62(1)(f) same law that was used to impose lifetime ban on former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from contesting elections.

Following ruling, former federal minister can contest in next general elections, but he will not be allowed to run in any polls that take place before it. In his apology letter after hearing, ex-federal minister admitted that he was not eligible for running elections as he had submitted fake affidavit.

CJP asked Vawda to accept that under law, he was ineligible to become member of National Assembly in 2018. “You submitted an application in June 2018 for revoking your US citizenship, but it was never accepted.” Justice Shah asked what is date on his citizenship revocation certificate and when did he resign from assembly. In response, Vawda said certificate is dated June 25, 2018 and he resigned from NA on March 30, 2021.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 26 2022

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