ISLAMABAD: After one-month hiatus, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday refused to accept Azam Tarar’s resignation as law minister, directing him to resume work from today (Nov 30).

Mr Tarar resigned on Oct 25, with some TV channels reporting that he made the decision citing ‘anti-establishment slogans’ raised at the Asma Jahangir Conference in Lahore during his speech as chief guest. After his resignation, Minister for Economic Affairs Ayaz Sadiq was given additional responsibility to serve as minister for law and justice.

Interestingly, the PM has rejected the resignation on the day when new army chief Gen Syed Asim Munir formally assumed charge of his office.

Tarar agrees to resume his responsibilities as federal minister

A source in the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) told Dawn that a delegation of federal ministers led by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and comprising Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister for Economic Affairs Ayaz Sadiq, and Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique visited Mr Tarar’s residence in the federal capital on Tuesday and conveyed PM’s message to him.

Mr Tarar agreed to take over the responsibilities as a federal minister once again.

He was also said to be under immense pressure for voting along with Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial in favour of some ‘junior judges’, who were being elevated to the Supreme Court.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2022