–Former dictator says ordinance was passed ‘without malafide intentions’
ISLAMABAD: Former military dictator General (r) Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday told the Supreme Court (SC) that the National Reconciliation Order (NRO) of 2007 was promulgated ‘without malafide intentions’.
The former president’s counsel Akhtar Shah submitted the reply on Musharraf’s behalf, stating that the NRO was promulgated without malafide intent or vested interests, and that it was meant to end political victimisation in the country.
Musharraf defended the promulgation of the ordinance, stating that purpose was to foster mutual trust and confidence among holders of public office and to remove vestiges of political vendetta and victimisation, to make the election process more transparent.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had issued a notice to Musharraf on a petition seeking recovery of huge losses Pakistan had to incur after the promulgation of the NRO in 2007.
Nominating Musharraf, former president Asif Ali Zardari and former attorney general Malik Abdul Qayyum as respondents, petitioner Feroz Shah Gilani had requested the court to order recovery of ‘huge amounts of public money’ misappropriated and wasted by them through unlawful means ‘already on record in different judgements of the Supreme Court and high court’.
Earlier on July 4, the SC had asked for details pertaining to foreign assets held by Musharraf and Zardari.
Respondents including Malik Qayyum were directed to submit affidavits in court and details of their foreign assets, offshore companies and foreign bank accounts including those of their children.
In his response submitted last month, Zardari claimed that he had no role whatsoever in the formulation of the ordinance. He also said that cases against him had been quashed following the NRO but were reopened after the ordinance was overruled by the top court. The PPP leader stated that he was acquitted from all criminal cases after being tried in court.
