The Supreme Court of Pakistan has struck down the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), saying it is unconstitutional.
A 17-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, in his short order, declared the ordinance as unconstitutional and illegal.
According to the judgment, the NRO is contrary to the equality guaranteed by the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan. Similarly, all the cases, disposed off because of the controversial ordinance, now stand revived as of Oct 5, 2007 position, said the judgment.
In addition, the court has ordered the government that it should immediately reopen the Swiss cases concerning President Asif Ali Zardari.
Earlier, during hearing of petitions against the NRO, the chief justice said even parliament has no right to change the basic structure of the constitution.
“In accordance to oath, we are committed to safeguard the constitution,” he remarked.
Earlier, the chief justice has warned the NAB Chairman Naveed Ahsan about a stern action if something false detected in the list. He ordered the NAB Chairman to sign the list if it was correct. On the court’s order, he signed the list.
The court summoned the summary file of directives issued for the elimination Swiss cases when the hearing resumed on Wednesday. On the excuse of acting attorney general, the court summoned principal secretary and secretary law. Secretary law while presenting the file in the court said attorney general wrote the letter for withdrawal of cases on the directives of Asif Zardari’s lawyer Farooq H Naek that was opposed by the than law minister Zahid Hamid.
The court has expressed displeasure on acting attorney general and said he hide the truth. The principal secretary of president Salman Farooqi informed the court that cases files are not present in presidency. The files were in president’ camp office in Rawalpindi.
The court advisor Mian Allah Nawaz in his arguments termed the NRO as filthy law and said any, which is beneficial for some individuals, is illegal. Another court advisor Shaiq Usmani said there is no legal ground of giving amenity under NRO. President could only issue the ordinance, which will convert into law by the assembly.
In his remarks, chief justice said how assembly could declare corruption as legal. The judges in their remarks said NRO is against Quranic teachings and amenity could only be given to political cases.
The judges said that if it were an ordinance for national reconciliation, then Baloch leaders and Altaf Hussain should also have been called to the country. During the final stages of the hearing, Salman Raja, Akram Chaudhry, Dr Farooq Hussain, Shahid Orakzai and Abdul Hafiz Pirzada completed their arguments.
Via The News and Jang
Random Posts |
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Bravo, I salute our chief justice and all the respected judges who proved once again that there is no one above the law. Congratulation to people of Pakistan who were desperately awaiting this good news.
ye bhen chode ka bacha Indian larkiyan chodta raha forein tour ke doran, is ka ek dost fresh suply Bomby se mangwata raha is ke leye. Ye dala sadar kese ban gaya?
Good decsision… it was suppose to be declared on DAY ONE of teh hearing without so much rumbling… case was about the validity of NRO, but SC was going so much in details of all the cases which was ir-relevant and was for the Media Play…
Cheif Justice warning abotu stren action to NAB chairman is illegal… CJ can nto threat or harras.. they need to look the evidence and decided punishment according to law but there is no room for threats… I think this Cheif Justice is a ROUGE Cheif Justice which need to be retired immidiately.
Come on Sohail give me a break, now people like you will start bad mouthing about CJ. He has a every right to scold at any corrupt basterd whether he is Zardari or NAB Chairman….enough is enough, time has come to get tough with corrupt people. How long we have to suffer due to their bad deeds.
i salute chief justise for his stand before corrupt powers.it’s not an easy to give ruling against incumbent governement but chief justice once again proved that he is the person whom people fought for.ppp it self did not defend nro.such is the value of nro that neither parlament nor ppp liked to defend it..all the powerful corrupt people should get the punishment for thier nasty and cruel deeds at the cost of poor nation
chief justice iftikhar chaudry has given a great and brave decesion
Respected Chief Justice ,
A Pakistani watching and listening from far flung areas of the world, would have been praying for you .This bold decision you made today Pakistan need this .
Being a Pakistani living abroad from the last 36 years , heaving heard the news , many time that so many have looted my beloved land .Me and my family always was never a part of these dirty crook y games .
What I am asking you please get if possible from all big heads,either they are military Generals the politicians or Government employees, what belong to them legally, please do not touch but what they have illegal and if they do not have any solid proof get it back put it in a baitulmall for all Pakistanis.
My nation is not poor,my country is not poor, why these other nations are humiliating us abroad.We are not corrupt people if everybody has the share in the country with full responsibility .Pakistan is rich from all corners only the money they have looted must come back from not only Zardari ,Mian Nawaz,or any other who has money abroad and it belong to Pakistan .
Politician should play their part with honesty,fairness and the rule of law should be strict and blind, no corners for no body.What I am asking you a brotherly advice that you have very short time as your stay on this post , make your vision and clear decision that you have to put everything on the track without any diversion.Big or small no worry only law should take its course.
My slogan
Earned money from Pakistan or its sources must come back to Pakistan.
There are many solutions but the law must be strict only.
Best Regards
Khalid Masood Rehman
Tripoli -Libya
Cell No – 00218 91 429 8755
You must log in to post a comment.