Says ‘It was essentially a 7-member bench, two judges had voluntarily recused themselves’
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Wednesday that the Supreme Court ruling in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa election delay petition was ‘rejected’ by a majority 4-3 split.
While talking to the media, Tarar added that there is no need to review the decision of the suo motu case as it is a “clear decision” that does not require explanation.
The law minister added that the government’s “position is that this petition has been rejected by 4-3”, adding that no further comment is needed in this regard.
“It was essentially a seven-member bench and two judges had voluntarily recused themselves,” Tarar added. The law minister also said that “we are saying on record that no one is running away from elections”.
While criticizing President Arif Alvi for unilaterally setting April 9 as the date of the vote for the provincial assemblies of Punjab and KP, the federal minister added that the “president had broken the law as he decided to impose the order and then withdraw it”.
The comments by the law minister come as the apex court ordered that elections in Punjab and KP should be held in the next 90 days.
The top court also ruled that the president and the Election Commission of Pakistan should announce polls in Punjab after consultation.
It is pertinent to note that the chief justice had formed a nine-member bench to hear the suo motu case.
