There was uproar in Pakistan’s political and media circles this week over the intended tabling of the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) in Parliament on Monday. The NRO is a legacy of former President Pervez Musharraf which intended to provide legal cover to the late Benazir Bhutto and husband Asif Zardari from corruption cases against them and allow Bhutto to return to Pakistan. Dawn, on November 2 did a recap: “NRO is bound to provoke fiery debates — mainly on grounds of morality — with the PPP-led coalition government seeking approval of an amended form of the decree that helped its creation and an opposition dominated by one-time followers of the two previous military rulers vowing to block it. The decree, which must come before the house in the form of a Bill, is one of 37 ordinances issued by Musharraf in the twilight of his power and which must receive parliamentary approval by November 28 or they will die under a Supreme Court ruling. In a ruling on July 31, the court nullified that emergency proclamation, but gave the government 120 days to decide the fate of the 37 ordinances after they lost protection given by the extra-constitutional move. An opposition outcry over the approval of a Bill to legitimise the NRO by the ruling coalition’s majority indicated there will be no smooth sailing for the draft in the house.”

Buckling under pressure from the Opposition, PPP decided against presenting the Bill, Daily Times reported on November 3: “The government decided against tabling the controversial NRO in Parliament for approval... Sources said the allied parties asked PPP to withdraw it and tap other ‘legal and constitutional’ means to deal with the situation emanating from the withdrawal...”

... contd.