Law Equally Applies To Everyone, PTI Founder No Exception: Tarar
ISLAMABAD, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 17th Aug, 2026)
Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Azam Nazeer Tarar on Monday told the Senate:
- That no individual is above the law.
- The same laws and judicial process applicable to every citizen equally apply to the PTI founder.
Response to Senator Azam Swati’s Point of Order:
Tarar rejected the notion that any political leader could be treated as an exception to the established legal system, referencing:
- May 9 cases
- Cases involving the PTI founder, which proceeded through courts with witnesses, evidence, and cross-examination.
Legal Mechanisms:
- If the prosecution considers a sentence inadequate, it can file an appeal.
- A convicted person also has the right to challenge the conviction and sentence before the competent appellate forum.
Delays in Judicial System:
- Delays in disposing of criminal appeals have been a longstanding problem, with:
- Death sentence appeals taking around six years.
- Appeals involving life imprisonment pending in high courts for 5-7 years.
Efforts to Reduce Backlog:
- Substantial efforts have been made to reduce the backlog.
- Even National Accountability Bureau appeals remained undecided for around six years, several years ago.
PTI Founder’s Cases:
- Applications relating to early hearing and suspension of sentence in the PTI founder’s cases are before relevant judicial forums.
Urge for Expeditious Proceedings:
Tarar urged the opposition:
- To pursue its cases expeditiously through courts.
- To place their trust in the judicial process.
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and Human Rights:
- He referred to proceedings before IPU’s human rights mechanism in Geneva, where relevant documents concerning the PTI founder were presented.
- The matter was examined, expecting fair treatment in accordance with law and prescribed rules.
Emphasis on Legal System:
- Tarar said political workers’ distress upon imprisonment is understandable but abandoning the legal system is not the answer.
- He encouraged the opposition to expedite judicial proceedings and pursue available legal remedies, emphasizing that courts ultimately decide cases.
