PPP warns of backlash against 'unjust' NRO review verdict

Shazia Marri claims PPP is being targeted while larger, more important cases are left pending.

KARACHI: The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has warned against victimisation and 'biased' decisions in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) 'Black Law' case.

In a joint press conference at the Sindh Chief Minister's house, PPP leaders threatened to initiate campaigns, as well as approach 'public courts' if the PPP leadership was meted any injustice.

Sindh's returning Information minister, Shazia Marri, referring to the NRO verdict review case, said that “we will not accept the decision on ethnic basis, but decision should be made on merit of the case, otherwise there will be resentment among the masses.”

The NRO was a law introduced by former President General Pervaiz Musharraf to allow the return of political leaders such as Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. However, a Supreme Court verdict in 2009 declared the ordinance illegal. The PPP though filed a review petition, claiming that it was an aggrieved party in that verdict.

Marri questioned the approach the apex court had taken towards the case, why the apex court had chosen to form a larger bench on the NRO case instead of an older, and, in Marri's opinion, a larger case like the 22-year old Ashgar Khan case.

Flanked by Sindh ministers Ayaz Soomro, Aga Siraj Durrani and Murad Ali Shah, Marri said that the NRO had benefited many individuals and political parties, but people have started targeting only PPP and its leaders, some of whom had rendered great scarifies for democracy to flourish in Pakistan.

Sindh Law Minister Ayaz Soomro said that they respected the judiciary and had never ever attacked it. “We want to see a trial against those people who have looted and plundered public wealth and supported dictatorship,” he said, adding that he the court would take an unbiased and independent decision.

Mari went on to say that there was a Rs100 billion corruption case pending in Lahore High Court against PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif. However, the court had given stay order. “We want to know why cases are not being taken up against Sharif family.”

Earlier, addressing a separate press conference at the Sindh Secretariat, Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri said that the Sharif brothers (of the PML-N) were hatching a conspiracy against the democratic government. She said that the Punjab government had been ignoring rights of women lawmakers in the assembly. “General discrimination in the Punjab government can be measured from the fact that development funds were not released to women MPAs,” she claimed.

She also criticised Tahreek –I-Insaf chief Imran Khan and said that he did not have true public support, with only 'spectators' participating in his rallies and public gatherings. She further said that Imran Khan had announced to convene a public gathering in Karachi on December 25, Christmas day, which according to Mari will hurt the sentiments of the minority Christian community.