PKR will seek other ways to get its de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim out of jail after the pardons board rejected his family’s application for a pardon, said PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.

Azmin said that the party will also discuss with Anwar’s lawyer how they can still seek for a royal pardon for Anwar.

"I will discuss with Anwar’s lawyer and family to look at other avenues,” Azmin, who is also Selangor menteri besar, said.

He spoke to reporters at the Selangor state assembly building in Shah Alam after the opening of the assembly’s first sitting for the third session for the 13th term.

Senior Federal Counsel Amarjeet Singh last week said the pardons board has dismissed the pardon application by Anwar’s family.

This disqualifies Anwar as member of Parliament and Opposition Leader.

Lawyers are waiting for the Kuala Lumpur High Court to verify the reply, which was delivered in the form of an affidavit.

The pardon application was filed by Anwar’s family on Feb 24, under provisions of Rule 113 of the Prisons Regulations 2000.

The provision allows convicts to petition the Agong, sultan or state ruler to seek pardon as soon as he or she is convicted, or after three years of conviction or at two-year intervals after that.

By virtue of Article 42 of the federal constitution, members of the Federal Territories pardons board are:

  • Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah;
  • Attorney-General (AG) Abdul Gani Patail;
  • Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor; and
  • Three individuals who are not elected representatives, appointed by the Agong.
Anwar is serving a five-year jail sentence for sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, after the Federal Court upheld his conviction on Feb 10.