PML-N seeks NRO-style remedy to enable Nawaz’s return

Federal Minister Javed Latif has lamented that the incumbent government has so far failed in attempts to bring any legislation to do away with conviction and cases instituted to “victimise” party's supreme leader Nawaz Sharif, pointing out that the latter’s return faced legal impediments which needed an NRO-style legal remedy. 

The PML-N leader told The Express Tribune on Saturday that Nawaz Sharif wanted to head back to the country at the earliest but regretted that despite having his own government in place, he was still “neck-deep sunk” in cases and potentially faced incarceration on return. 

He stressed that the coalition government should take up the matter collectively as it was not a problem specific to PML-N only and suggested a legislative remedy was needed to bin all the “forged cases” against Nawaz similar to the one carried out in 2007.

He further emphasised said that the powers that be “who have used such cases for arm-twisting”, should now step in and right the wrong. 

When asked if such NRO-style legislation – amnesty granted by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf – will be brought into the assembly to give a blanket relief to Nawaz Sharif, the PML-N leader revealed that he has raised the concern in the house, adding it should be tabled and brought into being. 

Read Nawaz may be held if he returns ‘sans’ transit bail

Asked what was stopping the government from bringing such legislation to the National Assembly despite the fact the government had virtually no opposition to confront, Latif emphasised that there was a need for collective decision-making on the matter.

Meanwhile, former advocate general of Punjab, Ahmad Awais, alleged that the PML-N has already made attempts to grant NRO to Nawaz Sharif and other political leaders via NAB law amendments, which were challenged before the Supreme Court. 

He said any legislation brought with “nefarious designs” can be challenged in court.
The National Reconciliation Ordinance was brought in 2007 to provide blanket immunity on cases instituted against bigwigs of the country including Nawaz Sharif. 

It is pertinent to mention here that convict Nawaz Sharif, who was in London for treatment since  2019, is yet to complete his ten years of prison terms on his return and other than that he was reportedly declared absconder in other cases.