Deviation from party policy could be in interest of country: Justice Mandokhel
The Supreme Court of Pakistan’s judge Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel on Tuesday said that deviation from party policy could be in the interest of the country.
A larger bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, heard the case on the presidential reference regarding the interpretation of Article 63-A of the Constitution related to disqualification of legislators over defection.
During the hearing, Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan stated that the political tradition of “buying and selling a few people” jeopardises the future of 220 million citizens and should be stopped. He added that a member of the parliament would remain disqualified until a court cancelled the declaration of his disqualification.
He also maintained that it has become a tradition in Pakistani politics to overthrow a government with money.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s advocate Babar Awan presented arguments, stating that those who default on the payment of utility bills are not eligible to become a member of parliament.
“If the time period is not determined then the disqualification is for life,” he contended.
