ISLAMABAD:The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Faisal Vawda seeking suspension of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP)’s decision disqualifying him for lifetime under Article 62(1)(f) of the constitution for concealing dual nationality.

Regarding the plea of Wasim Sajjad, senior counsel for Vawda, to stop the election scheduled to be held on March 9 on the seat fallen vacant after the disqualification of his client, the court ruled that the result of the Senate election due on March 9 will be subjected to the apex court order in the case.

During the hearing, a three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial noted that the court will hear the petition of Vawda as it raised questions over the ECP’s jurisdiction. The court observed that it had to be decided whether the ECP had the jurisdiction to disqualify the elected lawmakers for lifetime.

To a query by the CJP, Wasim Sajjad admitted that his client had submitted a false affidavit about his dual nationality to the ECP ahead of the 2018 general election. The court observed that while looking into the questions whether the ECP had the powers to disqualify the elected lawmakers for life term, it will also look into the conduct of the former lawmaker.

The court noted that the former senator had also used delaying tactics when his case was under adjudication before the high court. Meanwhile, the court issued notices to the respondents and the Attorney General for Pakistan and adjourned the matter without fixing any next date of hearing.

The ECP had disqualified Faisal Vawda for lifetime for concealing dual nationality in his nomination papers submitted for 2018 general elections. Later, the ECP had de-notified him as a Senator.