PESHAWAR: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Thursday challenged the lifetime disqualification of politicians in the Supreme Court, saying that it a ‘violation of fundamental human rights.’
The petition was filed by Ahsan Bhoon, the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, saying that the principle of lifelong disqualification should be applied only in election-related disputes.
Read more:
Top judge slams KP govt’s “dismal” performance
PM Imran assures action against responsible officials
Top court orders to recover Rs30m from accused
The petition states that under 3/184, the Supreme Court cannot conduct proceedings as a trial court. The petition further states that there is no right of appeal against the judgment of the court under Article 184 (3), which is contrary to the principles of justice. According to the petition, lifelong disqualification without the right to appeal is a “violation of fundamental rights”.
“Lifetime disqualification without the right to appeal is also a violation of the fundamental rights of the voters in the constituency concerned,” the petition said. At the moment, two key political leaders – former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and angry Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen – are facing lifelong disqualification from politics.