ISLAMABAD: Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar has said that he can only express his sorrow over the Supreme Court decision on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf petition against delay in holding elections in the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Addressing a press conference outside Supreme Court here on Tuesday, he said Pakistan cannot afford constitutional and political crisis.
He repeated the government claim that an apex court bench had rejected the suo motu notice by a margin of four to three despite Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial ruling against the notion in the verdict ammounced today.
He once again prayed the Chief Justice to constitute a 13-member bench to hear the recent important matters pertaining to the law and constitution.
The minister said dignity and writ of the Supreme Court demand such a course which will also serve the interests of the nation.
Pointing towards the division within the apex court, the Law Minister said being head of the institution, it is the responsibility of the honourable Chief Justice to do away with it.
Tarar said there should not be confrontation between the institutions.
Responding to a question, he said the apex court’s decision regarding provincial government elections would be discussed in the cabinet meeting being held today and the parliament.
Rana Sanaullah
Before the Supreme Court annulled the Election Commission of Pakistan March 22 decision to postpone elections in Punjab, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah threatened that the governemnt has the option of imposing emergency in the country.
Stressing on forming a full court, he said if everybody was demanding [formation of a full bench], the CJP should accept it.
About the option of clamping emergency, Sanaullah said if every important case would be heard by the same three judges, there arose justification to “take the constitutional step.”
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had also talked about the imposition of emergency or martial in the country.
