PPP leader Babar Awan. – File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Stunned by the Supreme Court order on the maintainability of the petitions on the memo case, the government decided on Friday to file a review petition.

The government said it believed the ‘memogate’ was not based no facts and, therefore, would go for a review.

Former law minister and PPP vice-president Babar Awan confirmed that the government would approach the apex court for a review. “We can file the review petition because it is the requirement of the Constitution,” he said.

He criticised Pakistan MuslimLeague-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif for filing the petition and said: “Today is a day of mourning.” He said that by going to the Supreme Court Mr Sharif had proved that he had no confidence in parliament. “Everyone knows that the petition was filed on someone else’s desire.”

On the other hand, the presidency remained silent and did not react to the verdict. Its spokesman Farhatullah Babar was reluctant to comment on the judgment.

“I cannot comment on the Supreme Court’s decision because I have not seen it so far,” he said.

Former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani again pleaded innocence but said he respected the court’s decision.

Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq refused to comment on the verdict and said he had not gone through it.

JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and its leader Maulana Ghafoor Haideri said parliament was supreme, but they respected the decision that the case should be heard by the apex court.

“The judicial commission set up by the Supreme Court should work with the Parliamentary Committee on National Security which is already investigating the memo case,” Maulana Haideri said.

Supreme Court Bar Association President Yasin Azad said there should not be a collision between the institutions because of the memo issue.