The Supreme Court has ruled that being declared a criminal or “proclaimed offender” does not disqualify someone from running for elections.
The decision came in response to an appeal by Tahir Sadiq, whose nomination papers were initially rejected by a Returning Officer but later accepted by an Appellate Tribunal.
The Supreme Court emphasized that existing laws do not mention disqualification for proclaimed offenders and highlighted the importance of upholding democratic principles and citizens’ rights in electoral matters.
The court overturned the high court’s decision, allowing Tahir Sadiq to contest the election, and directed the Election Commission of Pakistan to facilitate the process promptly.