October 5, 2007
Bhutto Accepts National Reconciliation Ordinance
By
Muhammad Najeeb
Islamabad
Former prime minister and chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party
(PPP) Benazir Bhutto has given a go ahead to the draft National
Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) under which political leaders facing
court cases would be given immunity.
"The ordinance will be promulgated any time today," a minister told
IANS requesting anonymity. He said that the federal cabinet late
Thursday night gave approval for the ordinance.
On the other hand, the PPP chief has also given clearance to the
ordinance. However, Benazir Bhutto said that they all demands have
not been met. PPP leader Farooq Naik who was instrumental in
drafting and redrafting the agreement said that the ordinance would
benefit all the political leaders who are facing court cases.
However, Naik, who is a member of the senate, said that the issuance
of ordinance does not mean that all issues have been settled with
the military ruler, President Pervez Musharraf, who is contesting
the presidential elections scheduled for Saturday for a second
five-year term.
"We say that we have reached an agreement after promulgation of the
ordinance," said Naik.
Reports say that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid-e-Azam (PML-Q)
is disturbed over the deal and many of its leaders voiced their
concern in a meeting with Musharraf on Thursday evening.
The meeting at Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz's residence continued
till early Friday morning with Musharraf and PML-Q president Shujaat
Hussain. "The meeting ended at around four in the morning," said a
PML-Q leader.
The ordinance says that all cases filed before Nov 17, 1999 against
holders of public offices stand void and further action would not be
taken against them.
A disgruntled PML-Q leader said that Musharraf was dealing with
Bhutto just to secure his own rule. "But what about us? We have
sacrificed a lot for Musharraf," he said, adding that after the
deal, the PPP will be in power and "we'll look stupid"
Another PML-Q leader, Tasneem Gardezi, said this is very strange
that the PPP is being given all concessions and that party's all
demands are being fulfilled. He said in all last eight years the PML-Q
has played on the anti-PPP sentiments and the president is all out
to support the PPP.
But on the other hand, the PPP has clearly said that it will not
support Musharraf in Saturday's presidential polls unless he
announces to doff the uniform before the polls. "Our members will
not vote for Musharraf in uniform," Bhutto said in London Thursday
night.
She said that her party has agreed upon the ordinance but there are
other issues. She said that her party is not in favour of a
president with assemblies' dissolution power. "We want a president
according to the 1973 constitution," Bhutto said in a television
program.
Under the 1973 constitution, the president is merely a figurehead
and can act only on advice of the prime minister. But former
military dictator Ziaul Haq got the constitution amended and the
president was empowered to dissolve parliament and sack the elected
governments.
However, now the president not only can dissolve parliament, but can
appoint chiefs of military services and heads the National Security
Council where prime ministers sits as ordinary member with four top
military generals - three chiefs and one chairman of joint military
services.
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