Implementation of NRO verdict: SC rejects Law Ministry’s report
* Court directs Law Ministry to send fresh summary to PM regarding implementation of NRO verdict
* Justice Tariq Parvez says officials concerned are misguiding PM
By Masood Rehman
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected a summary earlier sent to the prime minister (PM) for implementation of the NRO verdict, directing the law secretary to prepare a fresh summary for submission to the prime minister.
A five-member larger bench of the Supreme Court consisting Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, Justice Rahmat Hussain Jafferi and Justice Tariq Parvez was conducing a suo motu hearing to review the progress on the implementation of the SC’s NRO verdict.
Appearing on notice, acting Law Secretary Sultan Shah submitted a summary sent to the PM by the Law Ministry for the implementation of the NRO verdict, but the court rejected it, expressing concern over the government’s attitude towards the NRO verdict.
Earlier, the court had ordered the government to write a letter to the Swiss authorities for reopening the money laundering cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, which were disposed of or closed after the promulgation of the NRO. During the hearing, Justice Jawwad S Khawaja asked Attorney General (AG) Justice (r) Anwarul Haq about the course the court should take when the government was not implementing its orders. “We [the SC] have become a laughing stock,” he said.
The AG said the PM had asked the Law Ministry for its opinion on the NRO ruling. After going through the summary sent to the PM by the Law Ministry, the bench maintained that it was an effort to misguide the PM instead of informing him about the implementation of the NRO order.
The court noted that how could the Law Ministry advise the PM to seek help from the AG or the Law Ministry.
Justice Tariq Parvez remarked that the officials concerned were misguiding the prime minister and taking him to other way round. “Let him take his own decision,” the judge remarked.
“We will direct you what kind of a summary you should present to the PM,” Justice Nasirul Mulk added, pointing out that the summary sent to the PM suggested non-implementation of the NRO verdict instead of its implementation.
The court later adjourned the proceedings until the first week of July.
Meanwhile, the court also adjourned the proceedings of a case pertaining to the reinstatement of Ahmed Riaz Sheikh, an NRO beneficiary, until the first week of July.
Ahmed Riaz Sheikh, deputy director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), was reinstated to the FIA and promoted to the position of additional director-general (Economic Crimes Wing) even after the NRO was declared null and void.
The court was informed earlier that an inquiry had been initiated to examine how an NRO beneficiary could be posted at such a position.
Additional AG KK Agha informed the court that a summary had been sent to the PM regarding the action proposed against Tahir Sarfaraz, who was responsible for the reinstatement of Ahmed Riaz Sheikh.
Praying for more time, KK Agha assured the court that the process would be completed at the earliest. Agha informed the court that all efforts would be made to complete the investigation into the case.
Source: Daily Times
Date:6/12/2010
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