Parliament's authority reigns supreme: Tarar

Law minister says SC detailing ruling on reserved seats left many questions unanswered

ISLAMABAD:

Reacting to the detailed judgment in the reserved seats case, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said on Monday that parliamentary legislation holds precedence over Supreme Court decisions, particularly regarding the irrevocability of an independent candidate's decision to join a political party.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the law minister said that there was no clear stance on the top court's ruling, but he believed that the legislation passed by Parliament was the ultimate authority.

"As a student of law, there are some new elements in this decision, but legislation is the exclusive right of Parliament."

Tarar clarified that the process of independent candidates joining political parties is irreversible, as per existing laws. "The law is clear—an independent candidate must join a political party within three days of the election," he explained.

He also pointed out that there was confusion, which will likely be addressed through the pending review petitions from various political parties.

The minister further highlighted that the recent decision by the Peshawar High Court (PHC), which upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) ruling by a 5-0 majority, aligns with the law.

"The PTI was neither a party to the case in the election commission, the PHC, nor the Supreme Court. The ECP is a constitutional body, and once an independent candidate joins a party, their loyalty cannot be changed," he added.

The law minister pointed out that the detailed verdict did not clarify how the seats would be distributed, while the full bench of the court affirmed that legislation is Parliament's prerogative.

Furthermore, he noted, "It was distressing to read harsh remarks about dissenting judges. All judges are respected."