ISLAMABAD: Azam Nazeer Tarar resumed charge as minister for law and justice on Wednesday, 24 hours after Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa handed the baton of command of the Pakistan Army over to Gen. Syed Asim Munir.
The barrister had decided to step down citing “personal reasons” in the last week of October after attending a conference where anti-establishment chants rang out while he and the foreign minister was sitting on the stage — and, as recordings of the event suggested, did little to stop the protestors.
However, the prime minister decided against accepting the resignation and instead assigned the portfolio to his economic minister, Ayaz Sadiq.
Subsequently, on Tuesday evening, after Gen. Bajwa retired from the post after a six-year term, Shehbaz Sharif “rejected” the resignation letter and “instructed” Tarar to resume the assume the following day.
According to a Cabinet Division notification issued Wednesday, “in terms of rule 3(4) of the Rules of Business, 1973, the prime minister has been pleased to allocate the portfolio of law and Justice to Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, federal minister, with immediate effect.”
“Consequently, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Political Affairs, shall cease to hold the portfolio of law and Justice,” it added.
Meanwhile, Tarar assumed charge of his office in Islamabad shortly after he was notified as the minister, according to Radio Pakistan.
The “reappointment” comes after the prime minister asked a group of ministers to ask him to take over the responsibilities as a minister once again.
The group included Ishaq Dar, Sadiq, Rana Sanaullah Khan, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Marriyum Aurangzeb, and met with the senator at his residence in Islamabad.
