Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Monday clarified that the imposition of governor’s rule in any province is strictly a constitutional mechanism and should not be equated with martial law.
His remarks came during a heated session of the National Assembly where calls for political reconciliation echoed across the floor
Addressing the House, Tarar said the governor’s rule is clearly defined under the Constitution and must not be misrepresented as a form of military intervention.
He stressed that politics should not become an issue of ego and urged lawmakers to engage with reason rather than aggression.
He warned that the “House is not won by storming or bringing a procession,” adding that PTI’s decision to vacate the Assembly after the 2022 no-confidence vote had proven to be a strategic mistake.
Politics vs. power
The law minister highlighted that the essence of politics lies in reasoned debate, unlike fascism, which is rooted in the pride of power. He cautioned that political stability is essential for all parties, saying, “If Pakistan remains, all of us remain. If the country stands, politics can continue.”
Tarar also invoked the execution of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, noting that even then, protests remained within constitutional limits. “Attacking Islamabad with government resources is unconstitutional,” he added.
PTI responds: “We will not attack parliament”
Earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar assured the House that his party has no intention of storming Parliament. “We guarantee that we will not attack Parliament,” he said, insisting that PTI stands for strengthening democratic institutions.
He told Speaker Ayaz Sadiq not to side with the government, recalling past incidents where PTI members were “attacked” in the Assembly. “I thought democracy meant differences of opinion, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here,” he remarked.
Tensions over defence forces appointment
Information Minister Atta Tarar told reporters that controversy over the Chief of Defence Forces appointment was created unnecessarily on social media.
He said Defence Minister Khawaja Asif already issued a clear statement confirming that everything was proceeding smoothly.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar echoed this stance on the floor, saying there is “no issue” in the notification process. “The notification is a simple matter. The Prime Minister was abroad. The Ministry of Defence, not my ministry, is handling it,” he clarified.
He added that the Army Chief’s tenure is already protected under existing legislation, and future appointments will be addressed under the new constitutional amendment.
