Zardari seeks Ahsan’s help to deal with NRO scrapping fallout

The PPP recently dropped plans to present the NRO in parliament for ratification following pressure from political parties. The PPP-led government has plunged into crisis over this issue,which not only caused embarrassment for the ruling party but left it in a catch-22 situation.

Political observers believe the Supreme Court will now decide the fate of the NRO since parliament failed to take it up. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani too has said the issue of the NRO should be settled in court.

Zardari’s move to reach out to Ahsan at this juncture is considered significant as the lawyer was suspended from the PPP’s central executive committee earlier this year for openly criticising the party and backing the lawyers’ movement for restoring judges fired by Musharraf.

Ahsan,who was sidelined by the PPP for the past few months,has met both Zardari and Gilani over the past few days.

Ahsan has become a very important person as PPP circles believe he is the only person who can help the government and Zardari emerge from the current crisis by influencing Chaudhry. Reports have suggested that Ahsan has also been offered the post of Attorney General or Governor of Punjab province.

During his meeting with Ahsan on Thursday,Zardari discussed the legal implications of the imbroglio over the NRO and asked him to persuade the Chief Justice not to “create problems for the government,” sources said.

“The government is consuming all its energies to fight militancy,an energy crisis,inflation,shortage of sugar and other issues confronting the country. The NRO problem will further compound the government’s difficulties,” Zardari was quoted as saying by a senior PPP leader.

Ahsan has refused to comment on the meeting and reports that he had been offered various posts by the government. However,he told reporters that if the NRO is scrapped,all criminal and corruption cases dropped under it will be reopened.

If the judiciary strikes down the NRO,a number of government functionaries,including close aides of Zardari like Interior Minister Rehman Malik,will have to seek bail and face cases in court. They may also have to quit their posts,sources said.

Though Zardari is one of the main beneficiaries of the NRO,he cannot be summoned by any court as he enjoys immunity by virtue of holding the post of President.