‘SC verdict on judgements review law will not affect Nawaz’ cases’

‘SC verdict on judgements review law will not affect Nawaz’ cases’

Islamabad: Former law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Friday termed the Supreme Court (SC) ruling on the judgements review law as “very unfortunate”.

Talking to a private news channel, after the top court announced its verdict, Tarar said such verdict would not affect former premier Nawaz Sharif’s prospects of returning to electoral politics anytime soon.

Earlier the day, the SC nullified Supreme Court (Review of Judgments and Orders) Act 2023.

A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar announced the reserved verdict on the pleas challenging the vires of the Supreme Court (Review of Judgments and Orders) Act 2023.

Ghulam Mohiuddin, Zaman Khan Vardak, the Jurists Foundation, through its CEO Riaz Hanif Rahi, and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had challenged the vires of the act.

The CJP had also observed that the court welcomes and accepts that there should be remedy to the orders and judgements issued under Article 184(3) but such remedy should be crafted in accordance with the constitution by adding valid grounds rather than ordinary legislation.

The bill was passed by Parliament on May 5. The bill, brought to the House through supplementary agenda, was moved by Senator Irfanul Haque Siddiqui. The House had allowed its immediate consideration with a majority vote of 32-21.

The government had claimed that the bill was aimed to facilitate and strengthen the Supreme Court in exercise of its powers to review judgements and orders.

However, the opposition saw it as an attempt to reverse the disqualification of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Jahangir Tareen. Both were disqualified under Article 62 of the Constitution.