Nawaz, Tareen can’t challenge disqualification verdicts under new law: minister

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Monday said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) estranged leader Jahangir Khan Tareen cannot challenge disqualification verdicts under new law pertaining to the review of judgements. 

"The Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Bill 2023 will not benefit Nawaz and Tareen as they both have exercised their right of review against their sentences," Tarar said while speaking to Geo News. 

Earlier today, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan, during the hearing of the Punjab polls case in the Supreme Court, apprised the apex court that the law for the review of suo motu judgements had come into effect.

The Supreme Court Review of Judgements and Orders Bill, 2023, came into force Friday after President Arif Alvi’s assent. The law states that for reviewing a suo motu judgement, a bigger bench — than the one that issued the order — will hear the case.

"In case of judgements and orders of the SC in exercise of its original jurisdiction under Article 184 of the Constitution, the scope of review on both facts and law, shall be the same as an appeal under Article 185 of the Constitution," the law reads.

The law minister also said that the court's verdict was considered the final one under Article 184(3), stating that "there is no room for revision or curative review in our law".

"Under the new law, common people would be given relief under Article 184(3)," he added.

The federal minister further said that a debate had taken place in the National Assembly regarding the Supreme Court (Review of Judgements and Orders) Act. "The debate was broadcasted live when the Act was presented in the National Assembly and Senate."

A review petition can be filed for any case under the newly-approved bill, he added.