Photo: File
ISLAMABAD: Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar has resigned from the post , it emerged late Monday.
A lawyer closed to Tarar said that he supported Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial’s decision of elevating junior judges to the Supreme Court on the government’s instruction but “his conscious was not accepting it”.
“Therefore he is resigning now,” the lawyer added.
In a resignation letter addressed to the president, Tarar said due to “personal reasons” he was unable to discharge his duties as the federal minister.
Earlier today, the Judicial Commission of Pakistan (JCP) approved the elevation of three high courts judges including Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah to the Supreme Court.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial on Monday presided over the JCP meeting to consider the four nominees ,Chief Justice Islamabad High court Athar Minallah; Lahore High Court judge Justice Shahid Waheed; and two Sindh High Court judges Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shafi Siddiqui.
Resignation of Federal Minister for law & justice Azam Nazeer Tarrar. pic.twitter.com/bVYqwB7jUg
— Muneeb Ahmad Bhatti (@AdvMuneebBhatti) October 24, 2022
In the meeting, the JCP unanimously approved elevation of the IHC CJ to the Supreme Court while by majority of five to four deferred the nomination of SHC Judge Shafi Saddiqui.
The JCP by majority of five to four votes also approved nominations of LHC Judge Justice Shahid Waheed and SHC Judge Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi.
it is also learnt that powerful circles were unhappy over anti-state slogans chanted during Asma Jahangir Conference where he was also present.
On Sunday, some people in the audience started shouting slogans against the army in the presence of key ministers, legal eagles and journalists at the event held in Lahore.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the “unjustified sloganeering” against State institutions , saying it was unfortunate that such forums were being used to target the institutions.
The prime minister said that the coalition government and his party were firmly committed to ensuring the freedom of expression of every citizen as per the Constitution but regretted that the conference was used for partisan political interests.
