Sharif’s political revival: Supreme Court nullifies lifetime election bans

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PAKISTAN, Jan 8: On Monday, Pakistan’s Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, overturned lifetime election bans for individuals with previous convictions, opening the possibility for Nawaz Sharif to pursue a fourth term as prime minister. The upcoming election on February 8 sees Sharif’s party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), as a leading contender, especially with his main rival, former prime minister Imran Khan, incarcerated and disqualified from contesting for five years.

In 2017, Sharif, aged 74, was convicted of dishonest practices, and a subsequent Supreme Court ruling imposed lifetime bans on individuals found guilty under specific constitutional provisions, including Sharif. While not a direct applicant in the recent case filed by other banned politicians, the latest verdict renders Sharif eligible to participate in the elections, given that more than five years have passed since his 2017 conviction.

Chief Justice Isa, in his ruling, asserted that the lifetime bans were beyond the court’s scope. However, the ruling does not benefit Imran Khan, aged 71, whose party secured victory in the 2018 elections. The decision specifically abolishes lifetime bans, leaving the cricketer-turned-politician disqualified until 2028.

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