Pakistan

NRO beneficiaries list submitted to PM

A list of the NRO beneficiaries has been sent to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Express/irfan Ghauri September 25, 2010

ISLAMABAD:

A list of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) beneficiaries has been sent to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.

The list contains the names of 15 key government officials including Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar and Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza.

Sources added that the list of 270 beneficiaries does not include President Asif Ali Zardari. However, a list containing the president's name had been submitted in the Supreme Court earlier.

Updated from print edition (below)

Gilani defends president’s immunity

While the government refrained from disclosing the contents of the official report on the status of implementation of the apex court verdict on the National Reconciliation Ordinance, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday defended President Asif Ali Zardari’s right to immunity but asked other beneficiaries of the scrapped law to “voluntarily” quit public office.

Urging parliamentarians to protect their sovereignty, Gilani said: “The president is an integral part of parliament and he is the supreme commander of the armed forces. How can cases be reopened against the president when he enjoys immunity under Article 248 of the Constitution?” As the House was discussing the issue of Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s sentencing in the United States, the prime minister sought to unveil what can only be deemed as the policy the government intends to pursue in the coming days when the court will question it on the status of implementation of its decision.

“Half of his (the president’s) term has been completed and if it is necessary to reopen cases against him, they…should reopen cases after the expiry of immunity given to him under the Constitution,” he said giving a clear message to quarters concerned without specifying the receiver of the message.

Gilani, who recently asked the cabinet division to furnish a list of NRO beneficiaries holding public office, urged them to step down voluntarily. Among the beneficiaries of the law, enacted by former president Pervez Musharraf which was later annulled by the apex court, are a few members of Gilani’s cabinet and some close associates of President Zardari.

“What is parliament? It consists of the president, prime minister and the National Assembly and Senate, and non-existence of any of these three components would make it (parliament) incomplete,” he added.

Defending politicians, he said they had always been belittled on one pretext of the other. “It has become a common practice to level accusations against politicians without any proof.”

“Approach the courts if there is any complaint against us. We have faced the courts in the past and are ready even now,” Gilani said.

Referring to the issue of promotions of senior bureaucrats, the prime minister said that the Supreme Court’s verdict has been implemented in letter and spirit.

He said there were no rules regarding promotion of government officers from BPS-21 to BPS-22 and it was the discretion of the chief executive of the country to promote them.

However, he said, he had asked the Establishment Division to frame rules for their promotion on the direction of the Supreme Court and that he had implemented all recommendations made by the selection board for their promotions.

In a bid to defend the elevation of Kamran Lashari as the chief secretary of Sindh, Gilani said: “It is our duty to defend bureaucracy. I have constituted a committee to provide him an opportunity to submit his point of view. He is a senior bureaucrat. How can he go unheard?”

On Dr Aafia’s conviction, the prime minister said that the government is making serious efforts for her release and return to Pakistan.

“I have asked the interior minister to find a way, including an agreement (if possible) with the US government for the release of Dr Aafia Siddiqui,” Gilani said though he warned that the government did not want to create new legal issues.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2010.

COMMENTS (9)

Sadaf Jamal | 14 years ago | Reply No one mentions corruption of Shaukat Aziz which was ascertained by the Supreme Court. No one mentions the wrong-doings of Nawaz Sharif from tax-evasion to illegal use of electricity. No one even bothers mentioning about his conviction in not one but two cases. All we focus on is Zardari's corruption, never proven in any court of law anywhere in the world. They say Nawaz's conviction doesn't matter because it was under the hostile courts of Musharraf (of which Iftikhar Chaudhary was a part of. What they ignore is that Zardari's cases were not registered in or tried under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto courts either. They were under 2 consecutive hostile regimes for 11 years without conviction. Media talks of NRO yet is so touchy over the Jeddah deal and media. NRO mind you was an ordinance for people against whom nothing had been proved for 11 years, Jeddah deal a pardon to convicted. It is unfortunate for Pakistan that it is still happening here.

Muneeb | 14 years ago | Reply Why are we surprised? Every government has a 3-5 year plan to loot and destroy the country's resources for their personal gain. We have allowed it to happen for 6 decades. This is not the first time. I have no complaints against this government that I did not have against previous democratic governments. All my complaints are against our own participation and contribution to the country's economic, political, and judicial systems. We have taken the easy way out as citizens - we focus only on private enterprise or expatriation. If we as a nation start investing our time and skills back into public service, army, judiciary, and if possible, politics, then only we can salvage our country's future. Otherwise, an empty house is open to whoever is interested in it. That's what Pakistan has become - an empty house - fully furnished (not as much as it used to be, but still some pieces left) - and anyone who wants can take it over. So sad.

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zulfiqar baig | 14 years ago | Reply wish u good luck

Tariq | 14 years ago | Reply "To be absolute corrupt, excel in it, get medical certificates to avoid the courts in case asked to apear, enjoy living in five star rooms of jails or get house arrested, compete for the highest post of the country, enjoy the privilages and get the immunity." Jeeeeaaaayyyyyyy Jaaaamhoooooooriiaaaaaaaaaat Whenever politicians are objected and questioned for their ills like above they say Jamhoriat ko khatra hai Baree qurbanioun key baad lee hai jamhoriat Jamhoriat hi (apni) tarakee ki zamin hai Jamhoriat key baghair (apnee) masail hal karna mushkil hai Unfortunately we forget while living in this world that we are here for our test on the guidelines provided to us for which reward will be given afterwards, both in terms of humanity and obeying Allah.

SKChadha | 14 years ago | Reply Immunities are generally for acts done by anyone in the name or benefit of State and not for personal gains. May anyone be at whatever high place.

asif nadeem | 14 years ago | Reply pakistan zindabad.......

Sultan Ahmed. | 14 years ago | Reply Summery says, cases has been closed and can not be reopened , president has immunity under the clause of constitution, every one would be right side when ask why you are wasting your time in the circumstances.???????????

Isfand | 14 years ago | Reply Jokers.........

Ahmer Ali | 14 years ago | Reply Assalam-o-Allaikum Warahmatullah.Much the best step taken by PM Gillani in favor of strong democracy but the question raises is either President Zardari shall be prosecuted or shall he enjoy immunity and exemption.If Zardari enjoys immunity then this is the hypocritical statement of PM Gillani that no law shall be made against the Quran and Sunnah and Article 248 is totally against the Quran and Sunnah because our 1973 constitution has mostly articles made by British rulers and by the Article 248 exemption and immunity of Zardari is totally unlawful and illicit because Islam says present yourself first accountability the call the others for prosecution.So PM Gillani must fulfill the requirement of Quran and Sunnah being a true,sincere,honest and devoted muslim and must present Zardari in Supreme Court and NAB for setting an example of self-accountability first.

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