NRO promulgated without malafide intentions, Musharraf tells SC

ISLAMABAD: Former president General (R) Pervez Musharraf informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday that the 2007 National Reconciliation Order (NRO) was promulgated without any malafide or vested interest and all his actions were in accordance with the laws as existed at that time.

In pursuance of the apex court order passed on July 4 in a petition regarding NRO case, the former president filed his reply through his counsel Akhtar Shah, claiming that all his actions were in accordance with the laws as existed at that time. On July 4, the Supreme Court had summoned details of foreign assets of former president Asif Ali Zardari and Musharraf in a petition filed by one Feroz Shah Gilani.

The petitioner had prayed the apex court to issue orders to recover huge amounts of public money misappropriated and wasted by the respondents including former president Pervez Musharraf, former attorney general Malik Qayyum and former president Asif Ali Zardari through unlawful means “already on record in different judgments of the Supreme Court and high court.” The NRO, passed by Musharraf in 2007, granted amnesty to politicians and other individuals by quashing various corruption and criminal cases against them so they could return to the country and engage in the democratic process.

In his reply, Pervez Musharraf contended that he promulgated the 2007 NRO on the advice of the government (through his channel) and it was declared void-ab-initio by the apex court in 2010. He submitted that the promulgation of 2007 NRO was to foster mutual trust and confidence amongst holders of public office and removes the vestiges of political vendetta and victimisation, to make the election process more transparent and to amend certain laws for that purpose and for the matters connected therewith and ancillary thereto. He prayed the apex court to dismiss the instant petition. It is pertinent to mention here that earlier former president Asif Ali Zardari had also submitted his reply and had contended that the instant petition is frivolous and classic example of a politically motivated petition in order to malign him so that maximum political damage is caused to Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians hence he prayed the apex court to dismiss it forthwith. He had contended that the instant petition has been filed without substance or proper supporting documents which are testament to the frivolous nature of the instant petition thus the same is liable to be dismissed.