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Zardari, Gilani resolve to get rid of NRO beneficiaries

September 24th, 2010 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD Â– After Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani unequivocally asked the beneficiaries of defunct National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) on Friday to resign, there were reports that President Zardari had finalised a list of 242 functionaries who would be shown the exit doors.
According to a private TV channel, the President has finalised a list of incumbent government functionaries who had benefited from the ill-fated NRO.
Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar was not immediately available for comments.
Meanwhile TheNation has learnt that the President and the Prime Minister had resolved during their meeting on Wednesday that the NRO beneficiaries would have to go by the spirit of the apex courtÂ’s verdict against the Ordinance.
According to sources, the Government came up with the summary on the cases against the President in the Swiss courts after this decision to take a firm stand on the Presidential immunity under the Constitution and give out an honourable or at least safe exit to rest of the fellow beneficiaries.
Although President Asif Ali ZardariÂ’s name is on the top of NRO beneficiaries, yet he takes his case for granted under the immunity provided by the Article 248. However, the rest of the beneficiaries including Interior Minister Rahman Malik and Secretary General to the President Salman Farooqi would have to go.
That is why the list of beneficiaries finalised on Friday night, according to a private TV channel, did not include the name of the President in it, however it includes names of three Pakistani diplomats Wajid Shamsul Hassan, Husain Haqqani and MB Abbasi.
According to sources, the first Â‘casualtyÂ’ under WednesdayÂ’s decision taken by both the President and the Prime Minister to get rid of NRO beneficiaries became Secretary General to the President Salman Farooqi.
According to well-placed sources, Farooqi left the country Friday evening apparently for medical checkup for a week or so as he requires occasional treatment abroad. Sources were of the view that the he was accorded honourable exit according to WednesdayÂ’s decision.
NAB has sent a list of 242 NRO-benefited officials to the Prime Minister which has been sent to the Law Ministry for scrutiny. This list was sent to Establishment Division two days ago which has now reached the PMÂ’s House. The other key figures whose names are included in the list include Adnan Khawaja, former MD OGDC, PakistanÂ’s executive director in World Bank, Javed Talat, and Siraj Shamsuddin, PakistanÂ’s executive in Asian Development Bank. Pir Mukarram Shah, ex-husband of Farzana Raja, is also an NRO beneficiary. The PM has told the Senate that this list has been sent to the Law Ministry for scrutiny.

PM for accountability of NRO architect

May 16th, 2010 | No Comments

LAHORE Â– Without naming, but in an obvious reference to former President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday said the architect of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) should also be called and held accountable for it.
Â“It would have been better if the architect of the NRO had also been called for his version,Â” the PM said while talking to a delegation of Lahore Press Club office-bearers here on Sunday.
Gilani informed the delegation that international forces were behind enactment of the NRO, which wanted to bring back the democratic forces to lead the country. He said PPP was not the architect of NRO. Gilani disclosed that NRO had been extensively debated in the cabinet of former PM Shaukat Aziz and the Chaudharys of Gujrat had opposed it. At this, they were given the option of either endorsing this law or to accept lifting of ban on third term of the prime minister. They chose the reconciliation ordinance as they thought that other option would benefit Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, he further added.
Gilani said that federal law minister would present governmentÂ’s viewpoint before the Supreme Court when he appeared in the court. He said the government had always respected the judiciary and would continue the policy in larger interest of the country. He believed that governmentÂ’s policy of reconciliation and tolerance would help improve the situation.
The Prime Minister desired that all state institutions should work in harmony to ensure stability and prosperity of the country. He said the system laid down by the Constitution clearly demarcated their responsibilities. There was complete unanimity of views between political and military leaders, who met frequently to discuss national issues.
He said consultation is also made with the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Appreciating mediaÂ’s role in creating awareness among the people, he said media also had the responsibility to help establish peace and harmony in society. The media, he added, had to be balanced and objective while discharging its responsibilities to inform and guide people on national issues.
To a question on the performance of the government, the prime minister elaborated the decision-making process at federal level, and in this context, he specially mentioned regular cabinet meetings since its inception, meetings of the Economic Coordination Committee and his regular attendance at both the Houses of the Parliament. These forums not only help in the decision-making, but also ensure the accountability of governmentÂ’s initiatives on various fronts, he maintained.
To another query, Gilani said the present government had implemented a majority of commitments through the party manifesto. The PPP, he added, had made great sacrifices for the restoration of democracy and would continue with the same spirit for strengthening the democratic system.
Congratulating the partyÂ’s winning candidates in by-polls, Jamshaid Dasti (NA-178) Muzaffargarh and Asghar Ali Jatt (NA-167) Vehari, the prime minister said he would ask Federal Minister for Defence and Defence Production Abdul Qayyum Jatoi to reconsider his decision to resign.
Â“Qayyum JatoiÂ’s performance is good and the party values his worth and has full confidence in him as well as it recognises his services,Â” he maintained.
The Prime Minister assured the LPC office-bearers that he would ask federal ministers and request the Chairman of National Implementation Commission for frequent interaction with the media and utilise platforms like the Lahore Press Club.
Gilani also directed authorities concerned to ensure mass publication of a book on the two-year performance of the government to facilitate the media, diplomats and other segments of the society.
The LPC delegation appreciated the reconciliatory approach of the prime minister, which had helped resolve various crises. They said the 18th Amendment, NFC Award, Aghaz-e-Haqooq Balochistan Package, internal autonomy to Gilgit-Baltistan and settlement of IDPs, were undoubtedly great achievements of the present government.
The LPC office-bearers also acknowledged that the Prime MinisterÂ’s visit to the United States to attend the Nuclear Summit and to Bhutan for the SAARC Summit had improved PakistanÂ’s image at international level.
LPC President Sarmad Bashir headed the delegation comprising Vice-President Amir Waqas Chaudhry, General Secretary Ziaullah Khan Niazi, Treasurer Ansaar Zahid and members of the executive body.

SC gives 24 hours to implement NRO verdict

March 29th, 2010 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD Â– Supreme Court on Monday while issuing contempt of court notices on Chairman and Acting Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) set 24 hours deadline for implementation of its December 16th verdict on the National Reconciliation Order (NRO).
In its order, the apex court observed that no one was above the law and it did not matter if one was a king. The court directed the Chairman NAB to reopen all such cases pertaining to the NRO within as well as outside the country without any fear or hesitation. The court directed the NAB Chairman not to waste time in writing letters to the Law Minister or Attorney General and only follow the apex courtÂ’s judgement in this regard.
A six-member larger bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chuadhry and comprising of Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmad, Justice Shakirullah Jan, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa, Justice Tariq Pervez and Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday heard a number of the NRO related cases, which stood revived after its decision on December 16 last year.
The court summoned the Acting Chairman NAB, DG FIA, Secretary Interior, Joint Secretary Establishment in the court for not implementing the apex courtÂ’s verdict in letter and sprit and issued show cause notices on them and asked them to explain their position before the court on Tuesday (today).
The bench observed that the SC gave appropriate time of four months to the Parliament to decide the fate of NRO but in the TV talk shows and newspapers all were criticising only judges and seeking reforms for the SC instead of implementing its verdict accordingly.
The court asked the Acting Chairman NAB to explain what authority was preventing him form complying with the courtÂ’s orders and as to why the cases had not been reopened so far. If a king is involved, he would have to come to pre-NRO position, it observed. Pakistan is only country in the world where the judges make requests for implementation of their orders, the court further observed.
During the course of hearing of a case pertaining to Ahmad Riaz Sheikh, the CJ observed that it should be made clear why the cases had not been reopened against him so far. The bench ordered the Acting Chairman NAB to submit detailed report and directed him to appear before the court Tuesday (today). Â“They want to hush up everything, nothing will happen to them but you will have to go behind the bars,Â” the court told the Acting Chairman NAB.
The court asked why the cases had not been reopened so far against Ahmad Riaz Sheikh, Additional DG Economic Crime Wing of FIA, while he was acquitted in the serious corruption charges. The Interior Secretary should tell the court why Ahmad Riaz was promoted, the bench inquired. The court has also issued orders for confiscation of the property of Ahmad Riaz Sheikh.
It is relevant to mention here that Rashid A. Rizwi, President Sindh High Court Bar, was the counsel of Ahmad Riaz Sheikh and the CJ suggested him not to appear before the court as advocate of the criminal people like Ahmad Riaz Shiekh.
Justice Ramday inquired from the Secretary Interior and DG FIA that no one was eligible for the promotion except Â‘dacoits and criminalsÂ’. Â“Why you promoted an acquitted official even after the NRO judgement of 17-member SC benchÂ”, the bench inquired.
The bench also heard the NABÂ’s appeals for revival of cases against Ghani-ur-Rehman, former MPA from Kohat, Abdul Aziz Memon, Ashiq Babar, Haji Gulshair, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, former interior minister, Akhtar Rasool and Hashim Khan etc and adjourned hearing for two weeks.
The bench also heard a case relating to revival of the NAB case against Jahangir Badar, PPP Secretary General. Mohammad Akram Sheikh, his counsel, apprised the bench that his case stood revived from last December in the accountability court.
Jehangir Badar apprised the bench that he never sought for taking benefits under the NRO rather he contended on merits of the case. The bench disposed of his case. The bench also queried acquittal of Aamir Lodhi in the NAB cases and directed the NAB Acting Chairman to produce him before the court.

SC returns govt’s NRO review plea

February 23rd, 2010 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD Â– The Ministry of Law and Justice will file a review petition with additional grounds tomorrow (Thursday) in support of an already filed review petition against the Supreme CourtÂ’s December 16 decision on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), challenging the verdict from various aspects, reliable sources told TheNation.
Earlier, the SC Registrar Office on Tuesday returned the petition with technical objections on it. Advocate on the Record (AoR), Raja Abdul Ghafoor sent the objections to the Ministry of Law and Justice here on Tuesday.
Earlier, the Federation filed a review petition on 16th January against the short order of the apex court in the NRO case, arguing that the court failed to consider the doctrine of past and closed transactions while giving the verdict on December 16, 2009.
It is pertinent to mention that the Federation had not defended the NRO in the apex court saying that it was promulgated by the former chief of army staff, Pervez Musharraf to prolong his rule. After the courtÂ’s decision, the Federation had expressed its reservations over the verdict, saying that the apex court had gone beyond what was requested by the petitioners.
Raja Abdul Ghafoor, Advocate on the Record, while talking to this reporter, said that the Law Ministry would remove the technical objections pointed out by the Supreme Court and file the review petition with additional grounds and club it with the already filed petition. The legal minds of the Law Ministry including Attorney General of Pakistan, Anwar Mansoor Khan prepared a petition on solid grounds to meet the objections raised by the court and would file it tomorrow (Thursday), the Ministry sources told this scribe.
The additional grounds would address various points of the verdict including the court gave this verdict beyond the points mentioned in the petitions and did not hear the GovernmentÂ’s point of view on the Swiss cases, the sources added.
It is also worth mentioning here that in light of apex courtÂ’s verdict, over 8,000 criminal and corruption cases against bureaucrats and politicians were reopened. In this context the court directed the Federation that the cases against President Asif Ali Zardari pending before the courts in Switzerland should be reopened through a letter to the Swiss authorities.

Implement NRO verdict or face pay freeze

February 19th, 2010 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD Â– Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Friday directed Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Naveed Ahsan, to ask the Federation to implement the Supreme CourtÂ’s verdict on National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and ensure reopening of Swiss cases.
The Chief Justice also ordered Chairman NAB to implement the apex courtÂ’s 16th December order within 48 hours, otherwise his salary would be withheld. He expressed annoyance over Chairman NAB for not reopening of Swiss cases and held him responsible for non-implementation of court orders, which said 8,041 cases would be reopened soon from where they were being withdrawn.
During the course of proceedings of Banker City case, the CJ urgently summoned Chairman NAB on his poor performance in implementing the court order for clarification. Â“Why are some people being exempted from trial when all cases were reopened?Â” the CJ said adding, Â“You (Chairman NAB) even didnÂ’t write a letter to Swiss government regarding the withdrawn cases.Â”
The CJ also asked why the Prosecutor General and the Additional Prosecutor NAB were still working despite the orders given by the apex court to replace them. He further said the NAB officials would not be allowed to appear before the court unless the court orders were implemented, adding that the condition would be applied in the whole country.
The Chairman NAB said that he didnÂ’t have the authority to remove the prosecutors from their offices. However, Swiss cases will be preceded soon as he was taking instructions from Secretary Law in this connection, he added.
On this point, the CJ said the apex court knew very well how to implement its decisions and ordered to freeze of salary of Chairman NAB if Swiss cases were not reopened.
The CJ, Justice Chaudhry Ijaz and Justice Ghulam Rabbani got furious when the learned counsels in the case of Banker City spoke against the NAB officials and said they were not cooperating with authorities concerned regarding Banker City Housing SocietyÂ’s fraud.
The CJ also told the Chairman NAB that a special cell of apex court under the head of Justice Ghulam Rabbani was monitoring the NABÂ’s business regarding cases being reopened on the direction of the apex court.
Besides, Justice Chaudhry Ijaz remarked that Government itself should write a letter to Swiss government for reopening of cases. The decision of the larger bench was not an ordinary decision, he added.
Chairman NAB said that he was under the impression that the Attorney General of Pakistan and the Ministry of Law would write the letter to authorities concerned in Switzerland regarding the cases, which were withdrawn on the request of the then attorney general Malik Qayyum.
The CJ said, Â“You (Chairman NAB) should have to work for the implementation of courtÂ’s order with Law Ministry and submit his written reply in the court till March 12.Â”
A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Ch Ijaz Ahmed and Justice Ghulam Rabbani in its order on pleas filed by Syed Rahat Mehmood, Muhammad Akhtar, Muhammad Farooq Ansari against NAB, gave last opportunity to Chairman NAB to submit progress report by March 12.
NAB also submitted a report over recovery of money in BankersÂ’ City case which was not endorsed by the bench.
In the report, Tariq Mehmood Bhatti, Investigation Officer NAB, admitted that he had registered claims of about 11,000 people from whom amount was taken by Syed Rahat Mehmood, one of the accused.
Malik Bashir Awan, counsel for RDA, apprised the bench that the claim made by Syed Rahat Mehmood about Rawalpindi Development AuthorityÂ’s interest in purchasing his property, was not correct. He elaborated that in Adiala village, where RDA intended to acquire land for building a city, the accused had only a small portion of 2-kanal land.
The bench, however, accepted Syed Rahat MehmoodÂ’s request and assurance that he would come up with positive result after two-weeks. Deputy Attorney General Shah Khawar and NAB officials were present during the proceedings.
On the last hearing, the bench had observed that interim bails to Farooq Leghari, Syed Rahat Mehmoood and Muhammad Akhtar, accused in Bankers City scam, were granted on the condition that they would pay back to affectees and resolve their issues.

PM orders swift execution of SC verdict on NRO

January 22nd, 2010 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD Â– Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday discussed the detailed judgement of Supreme Court on NRO with the Attorney General and the Federal Secretary for Law and Justice.
The Prime Minister also discussed various options including filing of review petition and transparent implementation of the verdict.
According to the PMÂ’s House Spokesman, the Attorney General and the Federal Secretary briefed the Premier Gilani on various aspects of detailed judgement on NRO.
Soon after having a briefing from legal experts on detailed judgement on NRO case, the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had a one-on-one meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari.
Both the leaders, the sources informed, had discussed various implications of detailed judgement of NRO case and various options with Government to deal with it remaining within the precincts of law and Constitution.
About the briefing from legal experts, the spokesman of PMÂ’s House further informed that the meeting also discussed transparent implementation of the Supreme Court verdict on NRO. The sources informed that Premier Gilani was briefed about the consequences of Supreme Court verdict on NRO in length while the meeting also mulled different options to devise future strategy in this respect.
During the meeting, sources added, the Premier was of the view that Government would not take any decision in haste with regard to apex court verdict on NRO and strategy to ensure implementation on its verdict would be devised in accordance with law and constitution.
The Premier was also apprised of the review appeal against SC verdict and implementation on it.
Staff Reporter from Lahore adds: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said he has issued directives to the relevant authorities to implement the Supreme Court decision on NRO in letter and spirit.
Talking to media men after attending a sports function here on Friday, Gilani said his government had great respect for all the institutions of the State and it would always abide by the decisions of the Supreme Court.
He said he had issued directive for complete implementation of the Supreme Court verdict on NRO.
He further maintained that the President Asif Ali Zardari faced no threat to his office as he enjoyed Constitutional immunity (in the NRO cases) under Article 248 and support of the Parliament as well.
On a question, Gilani said that the government was elected with the public vote and had not come to power through back door,therefore, there was no threat to it nor to the democratic system.
Talking about the reconciliation policy in this testing time for the nation, the PM said that he would take along every political party and strive to get united to meet the challenges facing the country.
To a question, he replied that any amendment in the Constitution would be brought through the Parliament.
Replying to another question about the elevation of Lahore High Court judge to the Supreme Court to fill in the vacancy there, Gilani said, they had always acted upon the directions of the Supreme Court and on the question of two judges law and the Constitution would also be followed.
Replying to a question, he said Ch Aitzaz Ahsan was the party leader and had a status in the PPP and the party consulted with him from time to time.
He said the President would soon see him to take his advice.
To a question, the Prime Minister said that PML-N leadership had good relations with Aiwan-e-Sadar and Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif had expressed similar sentiments on Friday.
Regarding his meeting with Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, he said such meetings with leaders of different political parties was a routine matter.
He said he had long been listening that circumstances were not good. However,Â’we have turned the challenges into opportunities for betterment of the country and there is no need to worryÂ’.

PPP vows to face NRO cases

December 19th, 2009 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD Â– Expressing its resolve to fight out anti-democratic elements, PPP Central Executive Committee (CEC) under the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari, Saturday, decided that the partyÂ’s ministers and parliamentarians would face the Â“politically-motivated casesÂ” in the courts without resigning from their offices.
The CEC meeting which remained in session for well over 10 hours reposed full confidence in the leadership of Co-Chairman President Asif Ali Zardari and expressed its firm resolve to counter the Â“propagandaÂ” and Â“vilification campaignÂ” launched against him at all forums.
In this connection the CEC also adopted a unanimous resolution expressing full confidence in party Co-Chairman President Asif Ali Zardari. Through another resolution the party paid homage to Shaheed Ms Benazir Bhutto who laid down her life for the cause of democracy and poor people of Pakistan and pledged to complete her mission by adopting her vision for the country and its people.
Another resolution was adopted condemning the acts of terrorism in the country and expressing solidarity with the families who had lost their dear ones in these acts of terrorism. Another resolution was also adopted highlighting the services of the party for the country, democracy and people of Pakistan.
Prime Minister Gilani, all the PPP ministers in Federal Cabinet, Sherry Rehman, Ch Aitzaz Ahsan and almost all the members of the CEC attended the meeting. It is pertinent to mention here that it was the first CEC meeting attended by Ch Aitzaz Ahsan after restoration of his membership.
The current political situation came under detailed review in the meeting with consensus view of the party leadership not to bow before Â“the oppressive forces out to harm the incumbent political dispensation.Â” The meeting decided that no NRO-tainted minister or the MP would quit rather they would face the cases in the courts of law. It was also decided that after one is proved guilty, only then he or she should be asked to resign. The meeting expressed its resolve that the cases framed against PPP leadership were politically motivated and as in the past various dictatorial regimes had failed to prove these cases in the courts, they (PPP members hit by NRO) would prove those Â“politically motivatedÂ” false in the courts of law.
Later, giving details about the CEC meeting to media PPP Secretary General Senator Jehangir Badr said that Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party is the symbol of Federation and remaining within the ambit of the constitution, the party would continue to serve the cause of the people of Pakistan as envisioned by the founding Chairman Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and then followed by his Shaheed daughter Benazir Bhutto.
Responding to a question he said that the PPP leadership had all respect for the courts and other state institutions and added that the party would continue to work for the supremacy of constitution and to ensure that all institutions should work within its mandated ambit. Senator Jehangir Badr also listed the achievements of Pakistan PeopleÂ’s Party right from unanimous approval of NFC Award, Balochistan Package, Gilgit-Baltistan elections, reforms in FATA and other parts of NWFP, successful operation against militants and the governmentÂ’s focus on quick resolution of problems confronting the masses. The sources privy to the deliberations of the meeting said that it was the consensus view of the members to counter the onslaught on the PPP leadership and democracy with full force and in this connection other political players in the country would also be taken on board.
It was also decided that name of any federal or state minister or member of Parliament would not be put on Exit Control List (ECL) without the approval of prime minister or interior minister, sources added. A legal committee was also constituted to deal with the matters of NRO-tainted persons, sources said.
The action taken by the Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani against interior secretary for barring defence minister from visiting China in connection with defence pacts was also appreciated.
Addressing the meeting President Asif Zardari said PPP was symbol of federation which would take along the country ahead adding the challenges being faced by PPP would be countered in political way, sources said. President Zardari said that he was inspired by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali BhuttoÂ’s historic remarks that he would rather die at the hand of dictators than be killed by history. Â“This is the compass of my life too,Â” he said.
PPP fully believed in democracy and it fully respected courts verdicts, he reiterated. President was of the view certain elements were engaged in hatching conspiracies against him and the government. However, they would not succeed in their nefarious designs, he remarked. President said he would not pursue the path of confrontation. A complete harmony existed between the army and Aiwan-e-Sadr, he added. Prime Minister was powerful and he was changing the portfolios of the ministers, he told.
Sources told that PPP senior leader Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan briefed the participants on constitutional matters including NRO and told that the president enjoyed full immunity and no case could be revived against him. The courtÂ’s decision would pose no threat to democracy. On the contrary, it would block the way of martial law in future, he said. Ministers should face the cases as this step would strengthen the party, he remarked. There are some elements that wanted clash between the president and the judiciary, he added.

NAB moves to reopen NRO cases

December 17th, 2009 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD Â– National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has directed all its regional offices to take up all the cases dropped under National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) as the relief taken under the ordinance has been withdrawn following the Supreme Court verdict in NRO case declaring it void ab initio.
Meanwhile, in another development, on the direction of NAB, some 247 persons who had secured relief in NAB cases under the NRO, except President Asif Ali Zardari were placed on Exit Control List (ECL), the sources in the department informed.
It is interesting to note that even the name of the Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik was also placed on ECL.
A senior official in NAB headquarters informed TheNation on anonymity that all the cases dropped under NRO were revived to the status of Oct 5, 2007 when NRO was promulgated by the then President Gen Pervez Musharraf. In this connection, necessary instructions were already given to the regional offices of the bureau.
The official further said that all those who had taken benefit of NRO would not be exempted from placing their names on ECL.
However, the name of President Asif Ali Zardari was not placed on the list because being the President of Pakistan, he had immunity against the criminal proceedings. The sources in NAB said that all that was being done on the list of the Supreme Court verdict in the NRO case and all the cases stood reopened to the status of Oct 5, 2007 and the accused in these cases also went back to the status on or before that date.
The sources in Interior Ministry informed that on the direction of NAB they had issued arrest warrants of some 247 beneficiaries of the NRO and their names were also put on ECL. However, the name of President Asif Ali Zardari was not placed on ECL nor his arrest warrants were issued as being the President of Pakistan he enjoyed immunity against this any criminal proceedings. Prominent among those whose names were placed on ECL included besides Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Senator Jahangir Badar, leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Wasim Akhter, Salman Faruqi and Usman Farooqi, Farooq Sattar, Babur Ghauri, Anwar Saifullah, Zulfikar Mirza, Agha Siraj Durrani, PML-NÂ’s Rana Nazir, PPPÂ’s Yousaf Talpur, Bureaucrats Saeed Mehdi, Ahmed Sadiq, Aslam Hayat, Muhammad Shareef and many others. To a question as how the officials working under Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik had put his name on the ECL a senior official in NAB informed on anonymity that besides giving directives to put the name of all the NRO beneficiaries including Rehman Malik to Interior Ministry Chairman NAB had directly asked the FIA to do it. The sources said that the bank accounts of many of the beneficiaries were also frozen and orders were passed to seize their properties as well.
Our Staff Reporter from Lahore adds: Earlier, NAB Punjab reopened all NRO cases in compliance with the decision of Supreme Court of Pakistan and directions issued by NAB HQ Islamabad.
Formal application for trial of 80 accused in 32 NRO cases has been submitted to the Accountability Court, Lahore.
Similarly 12 inquiries, investigations closed as a result of NRO have also been reopened for further proceedings.
The beneficiaries of NRO in NAB Punjab cases include 12 politicians, 56 govt servants and 12 others. Names of all the accused have been placed on ECL. Bank accounts, properties and other assets involved in above mentioned cases would have been freezed.
Staff Reporter from Lahore adds: NAB Punjab has reopened all NRO cases in compliance with the decision of Supreme Court of Pakistan and directions issued by NAB HQ Islamabad.
Formal application for trial of 80 accused in 32 NRO cases has been submitted to the Accountability Court, Lahore.
Similarly 12 inquiries, investigations closed as a result of NRO have also been reopened for further proceedings.
The beneficiaries of NRO in NAB Punjab cases include 12 politicians, 56 govt servants and 12 others. Names of all the accused have been placed on ECL. Bank accounts, properties and other assets involved in above mentioned cases would have been freezed.
Staff Reporter from Quetta adds: Action has also been started against beneficiaries of NRO in Balochistan under the light of verdict of Supreme Court.
Around seven people including two politicians had taken benefit from NRO in Balochistan.
Politicians who had taken benefit were included sitting Minister of
Balochistan Engineer Zamaruk Khan and former Federal Minister Mir Baz Muhammad Khetran.
Engineer Zamaruk Khan is provincial General Secretary of ANP while Baz Muhammad Khetran is leader of PPP.
Special Prosecutor Irshad Ali Khan filed a reference in Accountability Court Quetta against Engineer Zamaruk Khan and four officials of Quetta Electric Supply Company Pishin for alleged corruption of Rs 3.3 million.
Second reference was submitted against Muhammad Iqbal a manager of Utility Stores Corporation. The court directed for issuance of notices to them.
NAB sources said that cases were under investigation against former Federal Minister Mir Baz Muhammad Khetran.
They said that after completion of investigations it would be decided whether to file reference against Mir Baz Muhammad Khetran.
Staff Reporter from Karachi adds: The Sindh Prosecutor General directed all the 24 district prosecutors over resumption of the cases abolished under National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
While talking to The Nation, Shahdat Awan Prosecutor General Sindh said that following the judgment of Supreme Court of Pakistan on NRO, the prosecutors of all the twenty four districts should reopen cases from October 25, 2007, abolished due to imposition of NRO.
The copies of the Supreme CourtÂ’s order have sent to all the provincial courts of accountably and also directed for the implementation of orders.
The court proceedings over the abolish cases were directed to resume from their previous status of April 5, while the copies of the Supreme Court judgment have also been sent to the chairman of Anti Corruption and Inspector General of Sindh police.
As many as three thousands and six hundred criminal cases were abolished through NRO those were included, target killings, illegal weapons, explosive items, attempt to murder and other criminal cases.
The above-declared criminal cases are mostly against the leaders and workers of Muthiada Quami Movement (MQM).
On the other side, according to the Deputy Prosecutor General Sindh NAB Aslam Bhutt, accountability courts of the province have been also directed to reopen the cases of corruption.
Advocate General Sindh Yousuf Laghari revealed that there wasnÂ’t any case registered against President Asif Ali Zaradai in any court of Sindh. He added that all the cases registered in Sindh province had already been ended before the imposition of NRO.
He claimed that during eight years of courtsÂ’ trial, nothing was proved against the president.
He further said that the status of the all cases remain in their previous condition, the proceedings of the cases have been directed to resume from their previous status.
Proceeding of the cases of all beneficiaries of the NRO including leader of the MQM Altaf Hussain residing abroad, would be continued in the country, he added.

SC strikes down NRO

December 16th, 2009 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD Â– Declaring the NRO void ab initio, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed reopening of all the cases withdrawn under the Ordinance both inside the country and abroad with immediate effect.
The full bench of the court also directed the government to take immediate steps for revival of the cases pending against Asif Ali Zardari and others in the Swiss courts. It also ordered action against former Attorney General Malik Qayyum for exceeding his authority by communicating to the Swiss Attorney General for withdrawal of the said cases without lawful authority.
The unanimous judgment read out by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry also suggested replacement of NAB Chairman, Prosecutor General and Additional Prosecutor General with other competent individuals for breaking the trust of the court and not extending the required cooperation.
The full bench also asked the Secretary Law to take steps for increasing the number of accountability courts in the country for speedy disposal of pending cases. The judgment also provided for establishment of monitoring cells in the Supreme Court and High Courts to monitor progress and proceedings in the cases in which the accused had been acquitted or discharged under Section 2 of the NRO.
The judgment held that that the NRO had not been promulgated to provide reconciliation on national basis. It also stated that the Ordinance violated various constitutional provisions including Article 4, 8, 25, 62(f), 63(i)(p), 89, 175 and 227 of the Constitution.
The judgement also restored and revived all the cases withdrawn under the NRO. Â“As a consequence of the said declaration, all steps taken, actions suffered, and all orders passed by whatever authority, any orders passed by the courts of law including the orders of discharge and acquittals recorded in favour of the accused persons, are also declared never to have existed in the eyes of law and resultantly of no legal effect,Â” the judgment said.
It further stated, Â“all cases in which the accused persons were either discharged or acquitted under Section 2 of the NRO or where proceedings pending against the holders of public office had got terminated in view of Section 7 thereof, a list of which cases has been furnished to this Court and any other such cases/proceedings which may not have been brought to the notice of this Court, shall stand revived and relegated to the status of pre-5th of October, 2007 positionÂ”.
Â“All the concerned courts including the trial, the appellate and the revisional courts are ordered to summon the persons accused in such cases and then to proceed in the respective matters in accordance with law from the stage from where such proceedings had been brought to an end in pursuance of the above provisions of the NRO,Â” the judgment said.
The court also nullified any benefit derived by any person under the Ordinance.

Trial of NRO case not linked to beneficiaries: CJ

December 10th, 2009 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD Â– Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Thursday remarked that the court was going to test the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) on the touchstone of the Constitution and it had nothing to do with the issue as to who benefited from the Ordinance in the case at hand.
The Chief Justice made these remarks while heading the largest bench constituted in history to hear three identical petitions filed by Dr. Mubashar Hassan, Roedad Khan and Qazi Hussain Ahmad challenging the NRO. The Chief Justice said that the court had summoned lists of the persons benefiting from the NRO only to provide basis for the case. He repeatedly asked the lawyers to confine their arguments to the question pertaining to the constitutionality of the NRO. At an occasion in the proceedings of the case, the Chief Justice also appreciated the Government for its written statement that it never accepted the 17th amendment and that it believed in the 1973 Constitution and would not defend the NRO in the court.
On Thursday, Dr Mubashir HassanÂ’s counsel Abdul Hafeez Pirzada Advocate, Qazi Hussain AhmadÂ’s counsel Dr Farooq Hassan and Roedad KhanÂ’s counsel Ikram Chaudhry Advocate completed their arguments.
Abdul Hafeez Pirzada submitted that once an ordinance is expired, no institution other than the Parliament could extend its lifespan. Dr Mubashir Hassan said that after failure of the executive and legislature of a state, the judiciary has to come forward to rescue the state.
Ikram Chaudhry Advocate said that the NRO was promulgated with the purpose to benefit a specific group in violation of the basic human rights guaranteed in the Constitution. He submitted that the Ordinance was promulgated a day ahead of the session of the Parliament so that former President Musharraf could win the presidential elections. Otherwise, there was no such immediacy to issue the NRO, he said.
He further said that legislation never used to be person or group specific, but the public at large should benefit from a law. It was not National Reconciliation Ordinance but it was the outcome of reconciliation between two parties, he argued.
Ibrahim Satti, counsel for a convicted former official of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was the only lawyer who supported the NRO. He said that if only one person was granted benefit under the Ordinance, then the benefit would also extend to all other convicts. He claimed that the Ordinance was not contradictory to human rights or the Constitution.
Satti said that he was defending the NRO because the court was going to give a single-sided verdict in the case, to which Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday observed that the court had not chosen to do so but no one had come forward to defend it. He said that the Federation and provinces too had decided not to defend the Ordinance.
Satti further argued that the Supreme Court during its October 12, 2007 hearing of the NRO case had not invalidated the Ordinance. Even the Parliament during the four months lifespan of the NRO had not passed any resolution against it. Therefore, it was a valid law and benefit granted under it was of permanent nature, he said. The Chief Justice, however, said that the court could not give verdict after a single hearing without listening to the Attorney General and other parties.
Acting Attorney General Shah Khawar, too, stood and stated that the Government never accepted NRO from the first day till date.
The Chief Justice further said that no one ever recognized the NRO as a valid law, saying the Parliament withdrew the Bill to this effect even after it was presented in the House.
The Chief Justice also directed Chairman NAB to appear before the court during the next hearing of the case and provide details of the US $ 60 million regarding which NAB had withdrawn cases from the Swiss court.

Haqqani approaches Lahore High Court to challenge inclusion in NRO beneficiaries list

November 25th, 2009 | No Comments

Angered over being named in the NRO beneficiaries list, Pakistanâ€™s Ambassador to the United States Hussain Haqqani has filed a case in the Lahore High Courtâ€™s (LHC) Rawalpindi bench.
Haqqani, in his petition, has challenged the decision of including his name in the beneficiaries list saying there were no cases pending against him in any [...]

Murder, embezzlement & balwa amongst the pardoned crimes

November 21st, 2009 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD Â– List of beneficiaries of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) released by Ministry of Law and Justice on Saturday took the top politicians of the state to task and perceived them as black sheep of the society.
Some 34 politicians have been ranked first in the list of some 8,041 persons in terms of money, murders, attempted murders, balwa, embezzlement, corruption, malpractice, terrorism, kidnappings and other crimes of heinous nature. Keeping in view their massive embezzlements, these politicians seem to be heavy burden on the country that is already facing a severe financial crunch.
The Law Ministry for the first time has brought the big fish to surface by releasing the list of countryÂ’s most corrupt people. Â“The notorious guns of malpractice of these black sheep which left the poor at the mercy of God had been used as common practice against the innocents since decades,Â” NRO list observed.
The top beneficiary of NRO is Altaf Hussain whose 72 cases including 31 murder cases were dismissed. President Asif Ali Zardari had seven cases against him, while the number of Dr Farooq SattarÂ’s cases was 13. Most politicians had one to two cases against them. Madam Nusrat Bhutto, the spouse of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, also heads over thousands in the notorious list.
The MQM headed over other political parties whose workers hit the iron when it was hot. However, the PML-Q workers kept them away from that shoddy practice.
Addressing a press conference, Minister of State for Law & Justice Mohammad Afzal Sindhu on Saturday released the much-awaited list of the beneficiaries of NRO. The total number of NRO beneficiaries is 8,041 and 34 top politicians, 248 bureaucrats and three ambassadors are included in it, he told.
Â“Corruption, embezzlement and criminal cases dumped under NRO will likely to be reopened, as the goose of the said ordinance will be cooked on November 28, 2009,Â” he said. Many stalwarts of the countryÂ’s political arena will fight legal battle in the courts as the top court of the country terms NRO null ab initio, he explained.
Sindhu also announced a few important names in the list, which include President Asif Ali Zardari, MQM Chief Altaf Hussain, Begam Nusrat Bhutto, Federal Ministers Ch. Ahmad Mukhtar, Rehman Malik, Dr. Farooq Sattar, and Babar Ghori, Governor Sindh Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan, Jahangir Badr, Anwar Saifullah, Yousaf Talpur, Ch. Shaukat Ali, Haji Nawaz Khokhar (late), Agha Siraj Ahmad Durrani, Mir Baz Kithran, Mushtaq Awan, Sulman Farooqi, Hussain Haqqani, Wajid Sham-ul-Hassan, A.R. Siddiqui, Saleem Shahzad, Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Mian Mohammad Rasheed, Tariq Rasheed, Tariq Mahmood, Sardar Maqsood Leghari, Ghani-ur-Rehman, Javed Ahmed Qureshi, Brig. (Retd) Imtiaz, Brig. (Retd) Aslam Hayat, Safdar Barqi and Saeed Mehdi.
Â“Sindh is on the bottom line in the said list as some 7,793 people obtained relief under Article 2 of the NROÂ’s Review Board. The number of beneficiaries of the Review Board is 3,230,Â” he said.
He said that neither Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani nor his wife had taken benefit under the NRO. Â“Prime Minister Gilani had opted to face the courts in the cases filed against him and he has been cleared by the courts,Â” he argued.
The minister said that President Zardari had protection under the Article 248 of the Constitution and couldnÂ’t be tried in any corruption or criminal case as far as he was the President of the state. Â“We will not protect anyone against the decision of the Supreme Court,Â” he maintained. The ruling PPP has taken decision that the judgement of superior judiciary would be accepted at all cost, he added.
Parrying a query when asked how much amount was involved in corruption cases abolished against beneficiaries of NRO, Sindhu said, Â“The demand was the list and it is produced before the media.Â”
Advocating NRO beneficiaries, he said most of the cases were political vendetta and had been lingering in the courts for 10 to 15 years. Â“PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif has himself admitted that Ehtesab Bureau of Saifur Rehman had initiated political cases against PPP leaders,Â” he added. The PPP would have to give credibility to the chief of a major political party, he remarked.
The notorious NRO granted amnesty to politicians, political workers and bureaucrats who were accused of corruption, embezzlement, money laundering, murders and terrorism from 1st January 1986 to October 12, 1999, he emphasised.
The State Minister for Law said the myriad corruption cases had been pending since decades, adding only one case was decided and after that three judges had to resign.
Answering a query, he said NRO was brought in the Parliament at the direction of the Supreme Court and the verdicts of the higher judiciary would be respected in future as well.

NA committee approves NRO with amends

October 30th, 2009 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD Â– The National Assembly Standing Committee on Law and Justice approved the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), amid uproar and walkout by the opposition members, and sent it to the National Assembly for legislation.
The committee deleted clause four and five, which barred the arrest of a Parliamentarian without prior approval of the special ethics committee of the Parliament. At the same time in clause seven of the ordinance, a number of changes were proposed, with deletion of the word Â‘public office holderÂ’, and the suggestion to settle the cases through courts.
The clause-wise review of the NRO sent to the Parliament for review by the Supreme Court of Pakistan was approved by the committee members through a thin majority, with seven votes coming in its favour while six in opposition.
The members of the committee belonging to MQM and a member belonging to PML(Q) forward Bloc Riaz Fatiana stayed away from the voting process while an independent MP, Saeed Zafar, voted in favour of it.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference at his Parliament House chamber, Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Ch. Nisar Ali Khan made it loud and clear that they would oppose NRO tooth and nail both inside and outside the Parliament.
Â“It is a black law and in case enacted by the Parliament, all options including moving the apex court are open,Â” Ch. Nisar responded to a question when asked if they would move the Supreme Court in case the NRO was given the nod by the Parliament.
The committee decided that the NRO would be enforced w.e.f October 5, 2007 and people who had availed the ordinance till today would enjoy immunity.
Prior to the voting, committee member Amir Muqam once again demanded the details of all those who had benefited from the NRO so as to know whether only political cases were dropped, or elements involved in criminal cases like murder had also benefited from it.
During voting on the ordinance, committee members belonging to PML(N) boycotted the meeting against the approval of the ordinance in haste, while MQM members and a PML-Q forward bloc member stayed away from voting.
The committee in its meeting reviewed the NRO section-wise and conducted voting. It approved the first section, with 6 in favour to 1 against, under which the NRO would come into force with effect from October 5, 2007, and section 2, under which civil and criminal cases registered for political victimization between January 01, 1986 to October 12, 1999 would be ended while the federal and provincial governments could set up a review board for ending such cases.
Under Section 3 approved by the committee, section 39 of the Public Representation Act 1976 has been amended, which bounds the returning officer to provide a copy of election results to the contesting candidate or its polling agent after devising results. Objecting to the section, PML(N) proposed that it should be made part of wide electoral reforms and should be deleted from the NRO.
The committee then deleted sections 4 and 5 of NRO from the law, upon the demand of PML(N), which required prior permission from the Special Ethics Committee of the Parliament for the arrest of any MNA or MPA in a criminal case.
PML(N) Zahid Hamid said that under the above sections, the parliamentarians got supremacy over a common man, which is a clear violation of Article 25A of the Constitution.
The committee approved section 6, which said that the court could not give verdict against any person without his presence, and also approved section 7 with the incorporation of some changes, including deletion of the world Â‘public office holderÂ’ and addition of a clause that makes the closure of corruption cases against any person possible only with the permission of a court of law.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, Chairperson of the committee Nasim Akhtar Chaudhry said NRO was a dictator-made law and they were not interested in its review at all but they did it on the direction of the apex court.
A PML(N) member of the committee said that the matter was bulldozed and they were not heard properly on the matter, leaving them with no choice but to walk out of the committee proceedings.
Terming it a black law, PML(N) MP Zahid Hamid said that they would oppose its passage from the Parliament and raise their voice against it at all forums.
PML(Q) MNA Amir Muqam, commenting on the committee proceedings, said that they had demanded the list of the beneficiaries of the ordinance but were not provided with it. He said they wanted to know who had benefited from this law and how many cases of criminal nature, including murder, were withdrawn under the said ordinance.
To a question, he said that even at the time of its promulgation by former President Gen. Pervez Musharraf they had expressed their reservation on it.
He said that they would oppose its enactment from the Parliament and his party would vote against it.
The meeting of the committee was held here on Friday with Nasim Akhtar Chaudhry in the chair, and was attended by Naveed Qamar, Shakila Khanum Rashid, Fakhar-un-Nisa Khokar, Zafar Ali Shah, Tariq Shabir, Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor of PPP; Independent candidate Saeed Ahmad Zafar; Anusha Rehman, Justice (Retd) Iftikhar Ahmad Cheema, Zahid Hamid, and Saira Afzal Tariq of PML-N; Amir Muqam and Raza Hayat Hiraj of PML-Q; and Riaz Fityana from PML-Q forward bloc.

Musharraf’s trial, NRO separate issues, says PM

August 24th, 2009 | No Comments

ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Monday said the government wanted to maintain friendly relations with all its neighbours, including India, on the basis of equality.
Talking to media persons after visiting Ch Nisar Ali KhanÂ’s residence to offer condolences over the demise of his elder brother Lt Gen (r) Iftikhar, Prime Minister Gilani maintained that Pakistan would not compromise on its sovereignty, dignity and honour.
When asked whether National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) was a hurdle in the way of former President Pervez MusharrafÂ’s trial, the Prime Minister termed them two different issues.
Gilani did not agree to the impression that PML-N and PPP had developed differences and said both the parties had their own manifestos and programmes, while they were moving forward with political maturity to strengthen the national institutions as per the wishes of masses.
The prime minister said the PML-N was playing its role of Opposition at the Centre while PPP-led government had its own role to play, adding, Â“We are coalition partners in Punjab and are hopeful that PML-N will join us at the Centre too.Â”
Gilani said his government desired forward movement on the composite dialogue process with India for the resolution of all the outstanding issues.
Replying to a question, the prime minister said the government was in touch with the PML-N on all the important issues, including relations with India.
Referring to his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at Sharm el Sheikh, he said he met the PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif to take him on board.
The prime minister said the government had fixed the ex-mill price of sugar at Rs 45 per kilogram, adding that the availability of commodity would be ensured in all provinces. He said the provincial governments following the federal governmentÂ’s step were also trying to control the sugar prices.
Gilani mentioned the unavailability of sugar in Balochistan and said the federal government had directed the Trading Corporation of Pakistan to ensure ample supply of sugar to the province. He said the government was utilising all available resources to normalise the price of sugar. He said the hoarders should also realise the problems of people especially during the holy month of Ramazan.
Earlier, the Prime Minister along with some federal ministers Rehman Malik, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Dr Babar Awan, offered condolences to Ch Nisar on the demise of his elder brother at his native village Chakri. Gilani expressed deep sorrow and grief over the death of Lt Gen (r) Iftikhar and prayed that Allah Almighty might rest the departed soul in peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude.