Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial has described Article 62(1)f – which provides for the lifetime disqualification from holding public office – as a draconian law.

The CJP made the observation at the hearing of a petition filed by PTI’s Faisal Wavda, who was slapped with a lifetime bar under Article 62(1)f on holding a public office after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) found that he hid his dual nationality in his nomination papers for General Elections 2018.

However, Wavda is not the only politician to face disqualification under Article 62(1)f. PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif and PTI leader Jehangir Tareen were also disqualified under the same law.

Wavda’s counsel Wasim Sajjad said that Wavda contested the election in 2018 and the petition which led to his disqualification was filed two years later.

The chief justice said that the ECP had the power to investigate misdeclaration. Even if the court overturned the ECP order, facts would remain the same, he said.

He said that the ECP had correctly reviewed the facts.

Lawyer Farooq H Naik said that Wavda confessed to having dual nationality.

However. the CJP also questioned if the ECP could slap a lifetime ban and added that the apex court would carefully examine the case.

The court adjourned for Thursday, October 6.