NRO Case: SC says PM violated his oath, preferred party over state

KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has said that Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has proved that he is not an honest man by violating his oath in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) implementation case.

The apex court also said that the Prime Minister preferred his party over the Constitution, and added, the government failed to implement the verdict in the NRO case.

A five-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa on Tuesday announced its verdict in the NRO implementation case.

Action can be taken against the Prime Minister, Law Minister and Law Secretary, the apex court announced further. The court said that all three individuals could be disqualified from being elected as members of Parliament.

The court said that those who violated their oath can be disqualified under Article 62 while the Prime Minister can be disqualified under Article 63(1)(g). The President can seek immunity under Article 248, said the Supreme Court.

It added that the reply of NAB Chairman in the case was not satisfactory and he did not take any steps to implement the Supreme Court verdict.

The Supreme Court has decided to refer the six options in the NRO implementation case to the Chief Justice under a larger bench for hearing of these options.

The six options are being handed over to the Attorney General:

1. Disqualify Prime Minister under Article 63(1)(g).
2. Contempt of court against Chief Executive and Federal Law Secretary.
3. Court may form a commission to get verdict implemented.
4. President may seek immunity under Article 248.
5. Contempt of court against Chairman NAB.
6. People of Pakistan may decide.

Earlier, the apex court had resumed the hearing in the NRO implementation case.

The next hearing of the case will be on January 16.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012