Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, while echoing the minority (dissenting) note, acknowledged the apex court’s authority to interpret the law. However, he added, the matter had gone beyond interpretation.
“It seems as if articles 51 and 106 [of the Constitution] have been rewritten. New things have been added to it which - as a student of the constitution - is difficult for me to digest,” Tarar said.
He said that the court’s decision would be respected by his party but as a lawyer and the law minister, the wording of the short order was blatantly against the “plain reading” of the Constitution.
Tarar said that there was no threat to the government after the decision of the apex court regarding reserved seats as it had a clear majority of 209 members in the House.
The minister said that the Sunni Ettehad Council (SIC) didn’t recognize non-Muslims as its members, adding that legal action would be decided in consultation with political parties.
He questioned that what about the condition of Article 51 of the Constitution. The independent members of the PTI had taken the stance that the reserved seats should be given to the SIC, he said, adding that apparently Articles 51 and 106 were re-written, he said.
The minister said that they were closely examining the verdict. He said that there was a law about the reserved seats, and it should have been allocated to the SIC.
He clarified that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) was not a party in this case and that independent members of the PTI did not approach any forum after winning.
Tarar said according to the SIC’s manifesto, they should not be allocated minority seats. He added that PTI never claimed that their party should get reserved seats.
Regarding the review appeal, Tarar said that a decision would be made after consulting of the federal cabinet and viewing the detailed judgment.
He said the ruling has raised ambiguities and confusion, and legal experts will continue to give their opinions on it.
The minister assured that the government would not confuse this constitutional issue with politics, adding that the ruling alliance had a clear majority of 209 members in the National Assembly. The PTI got a relief which it never prayed, he added.
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