In strict action, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualifies PTI senator Faisal Vawda as a lawmaker. The decision came in response to Faisal Vawda’s alleged concealment of his dual nationality at the time of contesting the National Assembly election on a Karachi seat in the 2018 general elections.
According to details, a three-member ECP bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja announced the verdict today. Interestingly, the bench also noted that Vawda resigned from the National Assembly seat to cover his crime.
The ECP directed the PTI leader to return his salary, including all the benefits he enjoyed as Senator within two months. Furthermore, ECP withdrew the notification declaring Vawda’s victory on a Senate seat in polls held last year.
However, ECP also gave Vawda the right to reach out to the Supreme Court to challenge the verdict for his disqualification.
Read more: Faisal Vawda calls for public hanging of Ex-Chief Justice of GB
Reacting to the news, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed hopes that Faisal Vawda will exercise his legal right.
After Jahangir Tareen, another PTI leader Faisal Vawda is disqualified for lifetime. Can Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is 'court of law' to disqualify a lawmaker under Article 62 (1) (f) of constitution?. Disqualification could be challenged in the Supreme Court.
— Hasnaat Malik (@HasnaatMalik) February 9, 2022
BREAKING:
Election Commission DISQUALIFIED #FaisalVawda as MNA & asked him to return all the favours received as MNA#ImranKhan Govt. has set an EXCELLENT precedent by holding its own team "accountable". Well done!
— Maleeha Hashmey (@MaleehaHashmey) February 9, 2022
Faisal Vawda dual nationality case
To clarify, back in 2020, an investigative report by The News revealed that Vawda was a dual national at the time of filing nomination papers for general elections in 2018. He concealed his American nationality by submitting an oath to ECP that he did not have any foreign nationality. Meanwhile, he applied for the renunciation of his nationality with the US consulate at Karachi AFTER submitting his nomination papers.
Important to note, the Supreme Court of Pakistan in a past judgement has categorically ruled that candidates who hold dual nationality are supposed to submit a renunciation certificate of the foreign nationality along with their nomination papers. However, Vawda failed to do that.
Soon after, petitions were filed seeking his disqualification. Vawda did not respond to the petitions but resigned as an MNA in March 2021.
However, the IHC held him responsible for submitting a false affidavit regarding his nationality. It directed the ECP to proceed against him under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution that deals with disqualification.
Read more: Faisal Vawda snubs journalist Matiullah Jan for questioning dual nationality