ISLAMABAD: Former President General (rted.) Pervez Musharraf authored National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) to better ties with political rivals during last days in his era, paving the way for Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto to come back home from self-imposed exile in Dubai.
The Ordinance issued on October 5, 2007 was meant to boost reconciliation in national politics, end to the tradition of political vengeance and to make electoral process more transparent.
As many as 8,041 cases were abolished under the Ordinance comprising seven clauses. Among those who took benefit from the Musharraf-engineered law include President Asif Ali Zardari, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, Federal Interior Minister Rehman A. Malik, Federal Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Babar Ghauri, Farooq Sattar and Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ebad Khan.
The apex court’s 17-strong bench annulled the Ordinance on December 16, 2009 nearly two years after its issuance. The court also ordered to write letter to the government of Switzerland to re-open Swiss cases.
However, the court’s order was snubbed sometime with the government stance that President of the state is entitled to immunity. And, sometime, the government shied away from court order by saying, ‘Letter has been written to the Swiss government.’
Coming under severe pressure in the case, several government officials including Attorney General, Federal Law Secretary tendered resignations.
On September 30, 2010, the government requested the court to hear NRO Review petition prior to NRO Implementation case.
Witnessing the court orders and public reaction to his introduced law, former president Musharraf confessed ‘It was a mistake.’
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