Islamabad: Intense political pressure has
forced Pakistan's ruling PPP to abandon a move to get
Parliament to endorse a controversial law that scrapped graft
cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, raising questions
about his future.
Following a meeting of senior PPP leaders chaired by
Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, the party
announced late last night that it would not ask Parliament to
validate the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), issued
by former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in 2007 to grant
immunity in corruption cases to PPP leaders.
Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said the meeting
"decided not to take the NRO to the Parliament."
The meeting also endorsed the position taken in
Parliament yesterday by Gilani, who had vowed to save the
democratic system and continue his policy of consensus and
reconciliation.
The PPP's move came after some leader of Muttahida Qaumi
Movement (MQM), an ally of PPP, said that their party chief
Altaf Hussain had advised Zardari to resign to save democracy
and main opposition PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif threatened to
launch nationwide protests if NRO was endorsed by Parliament.
MQM chief Hussain later changed his position apparently
due to pressure from the PPP but the damage was already done.
He claimed he had not given any advice to Zardari to
resign and said the MQM would decide on the NRO in accordance
with the aspirations of the people.
Under a ruling given by Pakistan's Supreme Court on July
31, the NRO has to be endorsed by Parliament within four
months.
Musharraf issued the NRO to ensure that the PPP did not
boycott presidential polls held in October 2007 that led to
his re-election while still in military uniform.
If the NRO is not ratified by Parliament within the
specified period, it will lapse and the corruption cases
scrapped under it can be reopened.
Leading lawyer and senior PPP leader Aitzaz Ahsan has
said the law will lapse if it is not endorsed by Parliament.
He also said the Supreme Court could strike down the law even
if it is ratified by Parliament.
The PML-N, which did not benefit from the NRO, has
consistently opposed the law.
In recent days, several other parties, including allies
of the PPP, have indicated they will not back the NRO if it is
presented before the National Assembly or lower house of
parliament.
Presidential spokesman Babar said the PPP decided not to
present the NRO in parliament after consulting its partners in
the coalition at the centre.
In his address to Parliament yesterday after opposition
lawmakers walked out of the House on the issue of the NRO,
Gilani urged political parties not to take any steps that
would harm democracy.
"I assure the House, the opposition and the people (that
nothing will be done) that harms democracy, the Parliament and
the system," he said.
"We shall take along everybody. Our aim is that the
sacrifices of our leaders for democracy and supremacy of the
Parliament bear fruit," Gilani said.
Expressing regret over the walkout by the opposition, he
said: "We believe in consensus. We evolved consensus in the
past and we shall do the same in future. We are talking to our
coalition partners. We are evaluating all aspects."
Gilani also made it clear that the PPP-led coalition is
still reviewing the NRO. "Consultations about the NRO are
continuing," he said.
Before walking out of the House, opposition PML-Q and
PML-N lawmakers shouted slogans, including 'NRO namanzoor'
(NRO is unacceptable).
Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said:
"We will not let the government bring the NRO on the agenda of
the National assembly. Enough is enough, we will not let this
assembly be used for this purpose."
"It is not fair that we suffer for your acts or let this
Parliament suffer for your acts. Today, the judiciary is
independent and if you have the courage, face the courts," he
said.
Bureau Report