SC to resume hearing of NRO implementation case: Government faces critical day in court today
* Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq to present govt’s viewpoint on six options given by Supreme Court
ISLAMABAD: The political crisis gripping the country can take a decisive turn today (Monday) when the government appears before the Supreme Court, which is ordering it to reopen a probe against the president.
The seven-member larger bench of the Supreme Court will resume the hearing of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) implementation case today. Attorney General of Pakistan Maulvi Anwarul Haq will present the government’s viewpoint on the six options given by the Supreme Court. The Law Secretary and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman will also appear before the court.
The Supreme Court has been pressing for investigations into allegations of corruption against President Asif Ali Zardari, dating back to before his time in office. He and other leading politicians had been protected by a politically inspired amnesty agreed to in 2008 that the court struck down in 2009, leaving him vulnerable.
The government has so far refused to comply, arguing the president has immunity. Last week, the court threatened to dismiss Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani if they continue to ignore its orders.
It ordered government representatives to appear in court on Monday to explain what they planned to do. A senior member of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) said this week the government would try to get more time from the court, but it’s unclear whether the bench is in a patient mood.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has also constituted an 11-member larger bench to resume hearing from Tuesday of a presidential reference, regarding revisiting of former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s murder case.
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