{"id":26765,"date":"2023-11-21T08:09:06","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T08:09:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/can-nawaz-sharif-contest-the-upcoming-general-elections\/"},"modified":"2023-11-21T08:09:06","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T08:09:06","slug":"can-nawaz-sharif-contest-the-upcoming-general-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/can-nawaz-sharif-contest-the-upcoming-general-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Nawaz Sharif contest the upcoming general elections?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<p>With mere legislation providing some hope after a lifetime disqualification, along with other convictions, lawyers comment on whether the PML-N supremo can return to the seat of power.<\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<p>While the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1783887\">recent developments<\/a> paint a seemingly hopeful picture for PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, major legal hurdles remain in his path to contest the upcoming general elections on Feb 8, 2024.<\/p>\n<p>The biggest one arguably is the infamous Panama Papers case, in which he was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1348191\">disqualified<\/a> from holding any public office in July 2017, and subsequently, stepped down from the role of the prime minister.<\/p>\n<p>He was handed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1452815\">disqualification of 10 years<\/a> from holding a public office in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference along with seven years in jail.<\/p>\n<p>The Supreme Court, in a subsequent decision, said the disqualification under <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link--external\" href=\"https:\/\/na.gov.pk\/uploads\/documents\/1333523681_951.pdf\">Article 62(1)(f)<\/a>, which sets the precondition for a member of parliament to be \u201c<em>sadiq<\/em> and <em>ameen<\/em>\u201d (honest and righteous) was for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1401362\/disqualification-under-article-62-1f-is-for-life-sc-rules-in-historic-verdict\">life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"media  sm:w-1\/2  w-full  media--right  media--embed  media--uneven\">\n<p>    <iframe class=\"nk-iframe\" onload=\"setInterval(()=&gt;{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"height:400px;position:relative\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/card\/1779291\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The former premier was also sentenced to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1418326\">10 years in jail<\/a> in the Avenfield Apartments reference in July 2018.<\/p>\n<p>Since his return to the country last month, the obstacles to which were removed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1782055\">bail in two cases<\/a>, Nawaz has been able to secure the desired results from the courts.<\/p>\n<p>The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1783887\/ihc-restores-nawazs-appeals-against-conviction-in-al-azizia-avenfield-references\">restored<\/a> the PML-N supremo\u2019s appeals against his convictions in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia references, and is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1790024\/ihc-to-hear-nawaz-appeals-on-nov-21\">set to hear them<\/a> today (Nov 21).<\/p>\n<p>In the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1562984\">Toshakhana case<\/a>, an accountability court has revoked Nawaz\u2019s perpetual arrest warrants, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1783492\/nawazs-legal-hurdles-fall-like-dominoes#:~:text=also%20granted%20him-,bail,-against%20surety%20bonds\">granted him bail<\/a> and ordered the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1788350\">unfreezing<\/a> of Nawaz\u2019s properties. The court will resume hearing the case on Nov 20 (Monday).<\/p>\n<p><em>Dawn.com<\/em> has reached out to lawyers to seek their views on whether the deposed former premier can contest the upcoming polls based on the current status of the charges he is facing.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"panama-case-disqualification\" href=\"#panama-case-disqualification\" class=\"heading-permalink\" aria-hidden=\"true\" title=\"Permalink\"\/>Panama case disqualification<\/h2>\n<p>Lawyer and columnist Abdul Moiz Jaferii termed the lifetime disqualification in the Panama case as the \u201cmain hindrance\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>While the Constitution is silent on the period of disqualification under Article 62(1)(f) (qualifications for membership of Parliament), the Supreme Court had ruled in 2018 that disqualification under the same <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1401362\">is for life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>However, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1761841\">amendments were made<\/a> to the Elections Act 2017 earlier this year, making the disqualification \u201cfor a period not exceeding five years\u201d from the court declaration.<\/p>\n<p>Expanding upon the conundrum, Jaferii noted that the Elections Act amendment that \u201cpurports to create a limit upon the disqualification for moral turpitude-related offences falls foul of the constitutional interpretation\u201d of Article 62 (1)(f) as given by the SC\u2019s larger bench.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"media  sm:w-1\/2  w-full  media--right  media--embed  media--uneven\">\n<p>    <iframe class=\"nk-iframe\" onload=\"setInterval(()=&gt;{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"height:400px;position:relative\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/card\/1789150\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\u201cHence, even if his [nomination] papers are accepted, this will be a strong challenge where the relevant subordinate courts will have to uphold the Supreme Court judgment,\u201d the lawyer stated.<\/p>\n<p>Stating his view, lawyer Muhammad Ahmad Pansota said Nawaz cannot contest the elections \u201cat this point\u201d and described how the legal conflict is likely to unfold in the coming weeks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it all boils down to when Mr Nawaz Sharif will file his nomination papers,\u201d he said, adding that the papers would be challenged by someone. The subsequent decision by the returning officer would then go before an election tribunal and then before the Lahore High Court, Pansota said.<\/p>\n<p>The matter would then land in the apex court, \u201cwhere it will be settled and the <mark>Supreme Court will decide the conflict between the law \u2014 an ordinary legislation \u2014 and a judgment of the Supreme Court\u201d, Pansota forecast.<\/mark><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI personally believe that legislation should prevail, but then there is a judgment of the Supreme Court,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n<p>The lawyer pointed out that the apex court\u2019s judgment interpreting the Constitution \u201ccannot be overruled by an act of the Parliament\u201d unless by a constitutional amendment.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"media  sm:w-1\/2  w-full  media--right  media--embed  media--uneven\">\n<p>    <iframe class=\"nk-iframe\" onload=\"setInterval(()=&gt;{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"height:400px;position:relative\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/card\/1672849\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Meanwhile, Barrister Rida Hosain termed the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1401362\">SC\u2019s 2018 verdict<\/a> of lifetime disqualification a \u201cflawed and moralistic judgment\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEssentially, the logic was that once the court had given such a damning declaration, it was to be permanent,\u201d she told <em>Dawn.com<\/em>. Commenting on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1761841\">tweaks<\/a> to the election law, she said it, \u201cby design, attempts to undo the lifetime disqualification judgment\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Echoing Pansota\u2019s views, Hosain also highlighted that if a time limit was to be added to the Constitution\u2019s Article 62(1)(f), it ought to be done through a constitutional amendment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is a possibility that this amendment is challenged on the basis that the Supreme Court\u2019s interpretation of the Constitution cannot be undone through ordinary legislation. [\u2026] On the other hand, Nawaz Sharif could argue that since the Constitution is silent, a time period could be introduced through the law,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n<p>Emphasising the importance of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1401362\">SC verdict<\/a>, lawyer Usama Khawar said: \u201cNawaz Sharif can not contest general elections unless the Supreme Court verdict interpreting Article 62 and Article 63 is overturned by a larger bench.<\/p>\n<p><mark>\u201cThe constitutional viewpoint is that ordinary legislation like [an] Election Act amendment cannot override the Constitution,\u201d the law instructor said.<\/mark><\/p>\n<p>However, at the same time, Khawar stated that the apex court\u2019s judgment \u201cdoes not automatically bar Nawaz Sharif from contesting elections unless a court of law first declares\u201d the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1761841\">changes<\/a> to the Elections Act contrary to the 2018 verdict and strikes them down.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"media  sm:w-1\/2  w-full  media--right  media--embed  media--uneven\">\n<p>    <iframe class=\"nk-iframe\" onload=\"setInterval(()=&gt;{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"height:400px;position:relative\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/card\/1780646\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Lawyer Ayman Zafar also was of the view that the election law amendments were of no benefit to the PML-N supremo for two reasons \u2014 their application was not retrospective and they lacked the authority to overturn SC\u2019s ruling of disqualification for life.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe promising legislation awaits interpretation by the superior courts, and it is contingent upon the court\u2019s review and potential nullification,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p>Zafar said till the decision of the SC of lifetime disqualification is not reconsidered, \u201cNawaz will remain ineligible to hold public office till the courts\u2019 respective declarations are upheld against them\u201d.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"other-legal-challenges\" href=\"#other-legal-challenges\" class=\"heading-permalink\" aria-hidden=\"true\" title=\"Permalink\"\/>Other legal challenges<\/h2>\n<p>The Panama Papers case is already a major obstacle for Nawaz to overcome but it is not the only one.<\/p>\n<p>Hosain brought attention to <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link--external\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pakistani.org\/pakistan\/constitution\/part3.ch2.html#:~:text=his%20release%3B%20or-,(h),-he%20has%20been\">Article 63(1)(h)<\/a> that bars an individual convicted of a criminal offence from being elected as a member of the Parliament for five years after release.<\/p>\n<p>Therefore, she asserted, \u201cNawaz Sharif\u2019s convictions in the Avenfield and Al-Azizia cases hold the field. If the elections were held today, Nawaz Sharif would not be able to take part. <mark>Unless his convictions are either set aside or suspended by a court, he cannot contest elections.\u201d<\/mark><\/p>\n<p>Referring to the Punjab interim government <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1783492\/nawazs-legal-hurdles-fall-like-dominoes\">suspending<\/a> the former premier\u2019s sentence in the Al-Azizia reference, Hosain cited an SC judgment (2019 SCMR 382) wherein it had ruled that suspension of sentence is not enough to overcome the disqualification but rather, it is the conviction which must be expressly suspended or set aside.<\/p>\n<p>The barrister stated that the fate of the PML-N supremo\u2019s appeals in the IHC will determine whether the disqualification under Article 63(1)(h) still engages for the upcoming elections. \u201cPut simply, if the convictions do not stand in appeal, the disqualification under this Article will cease.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pansota and Khawar also highlighted that Nawaz\u2019s sentence in the Al-Azizia case was suspended but the conviction was not set aside yet.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, on these grounds, I don\u2019t think he (Nawaz) can contest elections,\u201d Pansota told <em>Dawn.com<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Khawar pointed out that four cases could potentially bar the former premier from contesting elections \u2014 the Avenfield and Al-Azizia convictions that he termed \u201cimmediate legal challenges\u201d, the Panama Papers disqualification, and the Toshakhana case.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"media  sm:w-1\/2  w-full  media--right  media--embed  media--uneven\">\n<p>    <iframe class=\"nk-iframe\" onload=\"setInterval(()=&gt;{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"height:400px;position:relative\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/card\/1390816\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>He further said that as per a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/1390816\">judgment<\/a> of the apex court, persons disqualified under Articles 62 and 63 are barred from becoming the head of a political party.<\/p>\n<p>Referring to the appeals in the Al-Azizia and Avenfield cases, Zafar stated: \u201cThe outcome of these appeals holds significant implications for the political landscape of Pakistan, as the former PM seeks to secure a reversal of the legal decisions that currently constrain his political aspirations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She added that the Avenfield case may raise certain concerns for Nawaz, in addition to already existing convictions.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"silver-linings\" href=\"#silver-linings\" class=\"heading-permalink\" aria-hidden=\"true\" title=\"Permalink\"\/>Silver linings<\/h2>\n<p>Zafar pointed out that the probable \u201cextended legal proceedings\u201d on the Panama case <mark>\u201cmay ultimately comprise the Supreme Court reconsidering\u201d its 2018 verdict declaring the disqualification for life.<\/mark><\/p>\n<p>\u201cShould the Supreme Court choose to overturn its earlier ruling, a subsequent legal consideration comes into play,\u201d she noted, adding that the Election Act amendment would then become applicable.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"media  sm:w-1\/2  w-full  media--right  media--embed  media--uneven\">\n<p>    <iframe class=\"nk-iframe\" onload=\"setInterval(()=&gt;{try{this.style.height=this.contentWindow.document.body.scrollHeight+'px';}catch{}}, 100)\" width=\"100%\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"height:400px;position:relative\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dawn.com\/news\/card\/1788625\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-popups allow-modals allow-forms\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\u201cIn such a scenario, [Nawaz] Sharif could become eligible once again for public office.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Khawar stated that to the extent of the Al-Azizia reference wherein Nawaz was disqualified for 10 years, that conviction would not bar the ex-prime minister from contesting elections if the IHC overturns\/sets aside the same when hearing the appeal.<\/p>\n<p>To conclude, in Zafar\u2019s words: \u201cShould Nawaz Sharif entertain aspirations of a return to the office of prime minister for a fourth term or seek electoral participation in either house of parliament, he confronts an array of legal complexities, the resolution of which hinges largely upon the events that are to unfold in the weeks to follow.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With mere legislation providing some hope after a lifetime disqualification, along with other convictions, lawyers comment on whether the PML-N supremo can return to the seat of power. While the recent developments paint a seemingly hopeful picture for PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, major legal hurdles remain in his path to contest the upcoming general elections [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26766,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.dawn.com\/large\/2023\/11\/21125347416994d.jpg?r=125359","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26765","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pakistan"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26765"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26765\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26766"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}