Countrywide debate on NRO gears up

Pakistan

Countrywide debate on NRO gears up

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03 November,2009 04:28 pm

Countrywide debate of NRO continues both inside and outside parliament while government says it has acted democratically by not brining NRO to parliament. Other political forces, on the other hand, are calling it a victory of democratic forces. Talking to Dunya News exclusively Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan said that governments decision of not bringing NRO in parliament is a good one as majority of people didnt like it and were opposed to it. Ahsan maintained that many important personalities including government officials would be affected by this decision. All those who benefited from NRO after February 4, 2008 will be affected. Cases against them will re-open and they will have to arrange for their bails from courts. Those who benefited from NRO before February 4, 2008 would remain safe unless Supreme Court nullifies NRO on the petition of Dr Mubasher Hasan, Ahsan told. He said that President Zardari wouldnt get affected as he had indemnity under Article 248 of the constitution. NRO was issued by the former president of Pakistan General (R) Pervez Musharraf on October 5, 2007. It granted amnesty to politicians, political workers and bureaucrats who were accused of corruption, embezzlement, money-laundering, murder and terrorism between 1st January 1986 and October 12th 1999, the time between two Martial Laws. The NRO states:Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in sub-section(1), the Federal Government or a Provincial Government may, before the judgment is pronounced by a trial court, withdraw from the prosecution of any person including an absconding accused who is found to be falsely involved for political reasons or through political victimization in any case initiated between 1st day of January, 1986 to 12th day of October, 1999 and upon such withdrawal clause (a) and clause (b) of sub-section (1) shall apply.The current Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, suspended this ordinance on October 12, 2007. But he was soon dismissed after Musharraf abrogated the constitution on November 3, 2007. The new Chief Justice, Abdul Hameed Dogar revived the NRO on February 27, 2008.