Debate on NRO likely in NA session tomorrow

Lahore, Pakistan:- The 17th session of National Assembly will start on Monday afternoon at the Parliament House with heated debate on NRO in the offing, however, NRO is not part of tomorrow’s agenda. On the other hand, a meeting of PML-N parliamentarians has been summoned by the party in Punjab House Islamabad before the session.

NRO is not part of the agenda for Monday’s session of National Assembly that will start at 4pm chaired by Speaker Dr. Fahmida Mirza but four other ordinances will come under discussion. The government, under the direction of Supreme Court, had laid the ordinances promulgated by former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf in the house including the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). According to sources, the government has devised a strategy to get NRO passed during this session of the NA whereas opposition parties have decided to fully oppose the infamous ordinance. A heated debate between the ruling and opposition parties is expected during the session if NRO becomes part of the agenda. PML-N and PML-Q have separately called meetings of their parliamentary parties in Islamabad before the NA session.

PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif has summoned all the parliamentarians of his party at 11am on Monday in Punjab House Islamabad. Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has also been called in addition to party leaders from all the four provinces on the occasion.

Former President Supreme Court Bar Association, Aitzaz Ahsan while talking to Dunya News said, “according to detailed verdict of Supreme Court’s decision of July 31, 2009, which was released on September 28, even if NRO is passed by the parliament, SC reserves the right to review the ordinance provided it contradicts constitutional norms.”

The National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), termed as most notorious act of Constitution, was issued by the former president of Pakistan General (retd) 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.