National Reconciliation Ordinance case hearing underway
ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) Monday resumed the hearing of petitions against National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) and 17-strong larger bench headed by Chief Justice ofPakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhry is hearing the case.
It should be noted that the SC also restored today the former petition against the NRO filed by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
During the run of court proceedings, the CJ, in his remarks, asked the Federation as to how the ruling is going to affect the democracy in the country, adding if the ruling is feared to cause November 3 situation, then the Federation should intimate court in this connection, so that an immediate stay order could be issued.
The CJ Chaudhry continued, ‘We are sitting here for the supremacy of democracy and the law and such allegations cannot be tolerated,’ adding all the judges sitting here have been part to the struggle for restoration of thedemocracy.
The court ordered the Federation’s counsel Kamal Azfar to submit clear statement on oath regarding dangers to the democracy and directed the Federal Secretary to appear before the court today.
Federation’s counsel Barrister Kamal Azfar requested the court to announce sentence for the money-looters and that the looted money be brought back into the country.
The details of Swiss case and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) report on Asif Zardari’s foreign assets and expenditures were presented to thecourt.
The NAB further said the case was remanded to the magistrate for review after the objections put forward by Benazir Bhutto.
The NAB Chairman report said Asif Zardari was awarded six-month sentence for not appearing before the court.
The report further said the Swiss court ordered the return of $8.3 million to the government of Pakistan. However, Justice Javed Iqbal said there are contradictions in the NAB report.
The CJ asked as to who owns $60 million in Swiss bank. The NAB Chairman said he is not aware of the whereabouts of $60 million. (Last updated at 1040)
Supreme Court to resume hearing NRO cases today
The 17-member bench of the SC will commence hearing the NRO cases again from today (Dec 14, 2009) after a three-day long break.
The larger bench headed by the Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry will be hearing the petitions submitted by the lawyers of Dr. Mubashir Hassan, Roidad Khan, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Tariq Asad and Fazal Asad.
A. K. Dogar, Feroz Shah Gilani’s lawyer will give present their arguments.
Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, Dr. Mubashir Hassan’s lawyer will present his old stance on the new petition on behalf of the centre.
The request for the restoration of the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s discarded petitions will also be considered amid today’s proceedings.
Akram Chaudhry, Roidad Khan’s lawyer said the centre’s current stance on the activities of court, in regard to NRO petitions, is contempt of court. Its answer will be filed in the court today.
Advocate Akram Chaudhry, in an interview with television media stated the government’s stance is baseless, and that it should be discarded with a fine.
“The centre has committed contempt of court by submitting the results beforehand,” said Chaudhry adding further, “Its written reply has been prepared and will be presentedin the court today.”
