Supreme Court’s verdict
ISLAMABAD: Former law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the Supreme Court’s verdict would not hinder Nawaz Sharif to reenter electoral politics in the near future.
Tarar stated this while responding to the apex court’s decision on Friday.
In light of the SC’s ruling, there was a widespread belief that the door to Nawaz Sharif’s electoral politics had been closed. Tarar, however, clarified, “This will not impact Nawaz Sharif’s prospects of returning to electoral politics. He said that his lifetime disqualification was undone by an amendment to Election Act 2017.”
The amendment modified Article 62 of the Constitution, limiting disqualification to a maximum of five years.
He pointed out that the Constitution had established rules for all state entities, a principle known as the trichotomy of powers.
He remarked, “Courts repeatedly interfere in the jurisdiction of the Parliament and render verdicts that limit its supremacy. It is an unfavorable tradition.”
He underscored that such things happened in the past. It undermined the strengthening of the state’s institutions.
Tarar found the timing of the verdict distressing, saying the court announced the verdict after the dissolution of the National Assembly.
He explained that the judgments law was enacted in response to the demand of bar councils. These councils believed that the scope of the review process was limited, causing injustice for many individuals.
Furthermore, Tarar elaborated that the law stipulated the formation of a larger bench than the one that delivered the verdict. He also noted a positive aspect of the law, which allowed for the option to change legal representation.
Supreme Court declares Judgements Review Act null and void
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has declared the Supreme Court (Review of Judgments and Orders) Act 2023 null and void. A three-member bench, led by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar, made the announcement after considering the case during six hearings spanning from June 7 to June 19.
The law, enacted in late May, was challenged by various parties including Ghulam Mohiuddin, Zaman Khan Vardak, the Jurists Foundation represented by CEO Riaz Hanif Rahi, and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who had all contested the legality of the act.
