PM’s letter apparently tampered with: SC

Attorney-general denies ulterior motive behind amending NAB ordinance.

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that it appeared – prima facie – that the letter written by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to President Zardari to approve and sign the National Accountability (Amendment) Ordinance, 2010 was tampered with.

The apex court expressed concern over the documents submitted by Attorney-General Maulvi Anwarul Haq on Wednesday regarding facts in the issuance of the ordinance.

Haq, on behalf of the federation, submitted the reply and copies of the president’s and the prime minister’s letters and the law ministry’s summary regarding the ordinance.

A three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, was hearing identical petitions challenging the NAB Amended Ordinance promulgated by the president. The attorney-general had requested the court that the constitutional petition be dismissed as not a single reason has been cited as to what is wrong with the amended ordinance, constitutionally or legally. He denied that ulterior motives were involved to amend the NAB ordinance 1999.

Haq denied that the ordinance was promulgated without the advice of the prime minister. He said that the ordinance was sent to PM by the law, justice and parliamentary affairs division through a summary dated September 6. The court adjourned the case till Thursday.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2010.