ISLAMABAD: Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, speaking on the floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday, told the opposition that convictions in the May 09 cases were the outcome of a lawful judicial process and that the government had no role in it.
When Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarian Barrister Gohar Ali Khan protested the puAnishments and disqualifications of the party’s lawmakers, the minister clarified that conducting proceedings and announcing judgements fell within the court’s domain. “This is a lawful process. While objections can be raised, the appropriate forum for doing so is also the court,” he said.
He advised the PTI leadership that the only mechanism available to them was to file appeals against the convictions and disqualifications in the high courts, adding that parliament was not the right forum to debate prosecutorial procedures.
Referring to Jamshed Dasti’s case, he noted that the Lahore High Court had granted interim relief after hearing arguments, despite objections regarding the bench’s composition, and the same principles applied to other cases.
On the disqualification of convicted parliamentarians, he stated that the interpretation of constitutional provisions such as Articles 63(g) and (h) would ultimately be determined by the Election Commission of Pakistan and courts.
He mentioned that Nawaz Sharif had surrendered to the courts in all cases in accordance with the law and was subsequently acquitted.
The minister advised the opposition that parliament was not the forum to assess the merits of ongoing prosecutions, emphasizing that the constitutional framework required respect for judicial independence. “Our responsibility is to improve the legislative process and ensure an enabling environment in the House,” he said.
He referred to multiple cases against the Jang/Geo Editor-in-Chief Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, who petitioned the Supreme Court against the various cases against him on a single charge across the country. The Supreme Court directed the petitioner to move the relevant high courts, which the petitioner did. Eventually, the Lahore High Court clubbed all cases into one, and a relevant court heard it.
Similarly, Tarar said, only one reference could be made out in an asset case, but former prime minister Nawaz Sharif faced three different references on the same charge.
Responding to Barrister Gohar’s remarks on how parliament’s business should be conducted, the minister said the prime minister had already issued instructions in this regard. “I invite your parliamentarians to participate in the standing committee meetings to finalise amendments to the criminal laws bill, which has been pending for seven months. Submit your proposals so that lawmakers and the public can get relief,” he said.
Earlier, speaking on a point of order, Barrister Gohar stated that 200 cases had been registered against former prime minister Imran Khan, who had spent two years in prison.
He said that upon completion of the PTI founder’s two-year imprisonment, party supporters took to the streets across the country to protest. “Leaders and workers were arrested nationwide, while PTI parliamentarians were barred from entering Parliament House,” he added.ngs.
He noted that for the first time in the country’s history, three opposition leaders had been disqualified, accusing the ECP of overstepping its authority in disqualifying PTI lawmakers.
Meanwhile, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry refuted allegations that the federal government was conducting targeted operations against any particular area or tribe.
“Such assertions are unfounded and damaging to national unity,” the minister said and warned against attempts to create divisions between state institutions and tribal people.
Responding to points raised by various members, he said that that such narratives only served the interests of enemies of the country.
Meanwhile, responding to a calling attention notice raised by PMLN MNA Anjum Aqeel Khan, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that a mega project was needed to meet water shortage in the federal capital. Talal Chaudhry said that 44 water schemes for rural areas of Islamabad were launched, out of which only 12 are functional saying that both the government and local community share equal responsibilities. The National Assembly, meanwhile, adopted a resolution urging the federal government to strengthen the legal framework to ensure strict punishment for unauthorised video recording, cyber harassment and digital defamation.
Moved by PMLN MNA Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, the resolution emphasized the need for enhancing the capacity of law enforcement agencies (LEAs), including digital forensic units, to investigate and respond promptly and effectively to deal with such immoral activities.
The House also strongly condemned the non-consensual recording and dissemination of videos of individual, particularly women, in public or private spaces and declared that such acts are violation of fundamental rights and contrary to values of the Islamic and civilised society.
The House through the resolution, which was carried unanimously after suspending rules, noted that such acts constitute a serious violation of personal privacy, undermine the dignity and integrity of individuals, and are increasingly used for harassment, blackmail, defamation and extortion, creating a climate of fear and public insecurity, especially for women.
The National Assembly also passed a bill seeking to abolish the death penalty for two serious offences of publicly stripping a woman of her clothes and harbouring hijackers, reducing the punishments in two crimes to the life imprisonment.
The Criminal Laws Amendment Bill, 2025, already passed by the Senate is aimed at aligning Pakistan’s laws with its international obligations under the GSP+ trade agreement with the European Union (EU), which requires limiting capital punishment to the most serious crimes.
Minister for Law and Justice Senator Azam Nazir Tarar moved the bill which was passed by the House while rejecting amendment as moved by JUIF lawmaker Aliya Kamran, who proposed that standing committee of the House should consider the legislation. The House rejected by the amendment by 87 to 41 votes.
The House also passed the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which amends the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah referred the Whistleblower Protection and Vigilance Commission Bill, 2025, to the standing committee concerned with a direction to report back within 15 days to House. The law minister informed the House that the bill was passed by the Senate but it could not be processed due to dissolution of the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, Talal Chaudhry moved the motion to refer the Pakistan Coast Guards (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to the joint sitting for consideration and passage under sub rule (7) of the rule 154 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007, read with clause (3) of Article 70 of the Constitution.
The government also laid the Capital Development Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, and the National Agri-trade and Food Safety Authority Ordinance, 2025, as required under Article 89 of the Constitution.
The National Assembly also passed a resolution reaffirming Pakistan’s historic and unwavering support for Palestinian people and their struggle for freedom, dignity and justice, condemned the use of starvation, siege and collective punishment as tools of war, emphasising that these acts are war crimes under international law.
The resolution moved by PPP’s Shazia Marri and also signed by members from both sides of the aisle, expressed deep concerns over the continuing and escalating Israeli military aggression in Gaza, saying this has resulted in the killing of civilians and widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure.
The resolution urged the government to continue to raise its voice for the Palestinian people at all international forums including the United Nations and the OIC and other relevant and expand its diplomatic, humanitarian and moral support.
