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Supreme Court rejects government's plea to review NRO verdict

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Supreme Court rejects government's plea to review NRO verdict
By Express / Masror Hausen
Published: November 25, 2011
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the federal government’s review petition of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), saying that the documents presented by the government’s counsel are not relevant and did not justify reviewing the verdict.
The Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry delivered the verdict that was heard by a 17-member bench. Justice Chaudhry said that the court had discarded the review petition because the documents presented “do not belong to the case”.
When the court ordered Law Secretary Masood Chishti to present additional documents, he refused to comply with the request. He said that Babar Awan (who was not present in court) would present the additional documents on Monday as he was occupied with Assembly matters today.
The court, again, ordered Chishti to read additional documents, adding that the bench did not expect the case to be argued and that a simple reading would suffice. Chishti refused to comply with court orders, saying that he is not in a position to do. He said he realises he will face contempt of court charges and is prepared to go to jail as he is “not interested” in his job.
During Thursday’s hearing, Awan had presented documents to an increasingly frustrated bench. “In the past four days, the federation has failed to tell the court how it was affected by the verdict,” Justice Asif Saeed Khosa had said. Awan submitted additional documents to show how the verdict had hurt the federation, but the court made it clear that additional documents cannot be accepted in a review appeal case. The chief justice said that being an ‘experienced lawyer’ Awan should have known this.
Although the bench did not officially accept the documents, it agreed to finally hear his arguments today (Friday).
Awan was not present during the hearing.
The NRO was issued by former President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf in 2007. It granted amnesty to politicians, political workers and bureaucrats who were accused of corruption, embezzlement, money laundering, murder, and terrorism. It was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2009, throwing the country into a political crisis.
Supreme Court rejects government’s plea to review NRO verdict – The Express Tribune
 
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Yet another good decision by SCoP. Any person indulged in any criminal activity, must be brought to justice. It shows how free these courts are functioning at the moment. This freedom of courts from any influence must be continued.
 
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