The Islamabad High Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and former federal minister Faisal Vawda barring the Election Commission of Pakistan from conducting a hearing on a case related to his disqualification.

The case focuses on a petition filed by Dost Ali in the ECP against Vawda in 2020, seeking his disqualification over hiding information pertaining to his dual nationality.

According to the petition, Vawda concealed his dual nationality at the time of filing of his nomination papers and falsely declared on oath before the ECP that “he didn’t have any foreign nationality”.

During Friday's hearing, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said Vawda should allow the commission to continue proceedings in the case according to law, in case the senator is not guilty.

Vawda's lawyer noted the ECP can take decision of lawmakers' qualification within a time period of 60 days after they take oath. Therefore, the proceeding of the commission against Vawda should be declared illegal, he added.

Justice Minallah said the plea against Vawda's disqualification had been submitted within 60 days of taking the oath. Now, it was upon the former federal minister to prove his disqualification.

The IHC chief justice inquired Vawda's lawyer why his client was getting afraid of the ECP's proceedings.

Then, the court dismissed the petition filed by the former federal minister.

Vawda contested the election from NA-249 (West-II), Karachi, in July 2018 on a ticket of the PTI.