I am watching TV and writing these lines. Just now the news has come that Supreme Court of Pakistan has struck down National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
As I am changing channels, I just saw Imran Khan demanding mid-term elections. PML(N) guys seem to be asking for the resignation of President on ‘moral’ grounds where as PPP guys seem to be saying ‘nothing doing’ while on record they are saying they ‘welcome’ the decision. Atleast one, Farhatullah Babar has said President ‘will not’ resign.
The implication of this decision is that all the cases taken back as part of reconcilitation will/can be reopened.
On another channel I saw Abdul Hafeez Peerzada and Dr. Mubashir Hassan’s combined press conference where both of them are saying this is a ‘historic’ decision of Supreme Court and it has restored the pride of Pakistan in the comity of nations.
Few minutes ago I was driving across Karachi roads where shops and businesses were geting closed in anticipation of this decision.
Here is the news update at the daily News and the daily Dawn.
Title Photo is courtesy of ZAK
ATP’s related Post: Politics of NRO – List of beneficiaries released
I will not make a political statement. I just do not understand a simple fact. How come a person, who only in 1999 committed an act which is punishable by death according to Pakistan’s constitution, order the cases of 1996 to be reopened against other people? Does NRO only apply to CJ? Should not a case of high treason be filed against him also? Also he wrote that even parliament does not have authority of changing constitution. Does the courts have authority to over throw the constitution altogether? I know people will say it was all past. Now he has changed. I will argue Zardari’s cases are even a farther past, and unproven. May be he has changed too. While CJ’s own act is nearer past and self-proven.
Historic desicion of course. Hats off to Lawyers movement and civil society support, Pakistan is back on track to become a civilized country.
But still a long way to go, we all should be vigilant , as corrupt selfish and politicians will still try to derail it in the name of “democracy” which they mean liscence to loot the people
The real hero is Musharaf,now at least all criminals are within the reach of law, no run away criminal.Let’s catch them !!
Pakistanis rejoice. Pakistanis cry in Joy. Pakistanis laugh. Pakistanis weep in joy. Pakistanis dance. Pakistanis clap. Pakistanis savor every moment of this historic and game changing decision. Salaam to our CJ.
@Aamir Ali
Law suits cannot be terminated by an executive. Once it is filed, it can only be adjudicated by a judge. A government can seek dismissal of a case by filing a motion to withdraw, but this still needs judge’s order.
One would think that the cases which were impacted by NRO were never adjudicated considering this is Pakistan where justice works on stranger spokes. That said, since this was an ordinance that expired its term and was never ratified by the parliament, all the lawsuits technically, spring back to life. An ordinance is a temporary measure and does not hold the affect of law.
I think in this case, mere dismissal of the case, filed prior to the lapse of the ordinance, is being mislabeled as “struck down”. I have not seen the judgement therefore do not know the language. Again, my best guess is that the ignorant media, which loves to spread ignorance around, is out on the pasture.