Pak govt ‘won’t force’ NRO-tainted ministers to quit “unless proved guilty”

LAHORE - The PPP-led Pakistan government has decided in principle not to ‘force’ the ministers implicated in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) case to resign, until they are proved to be guilty.

“The NRO-tainted ministers are already facing courts. They will not be forced to quit unless proved guilty. The cases against most of them were instituted on political grounds in the past,” the Dawn quoted Advocate Sardar Latif Khosa, adviser to the prime minister, as saying.

“As far as the government officials are concerned, they have been asked to quit immediately and face courts, otherwise they will be shown the door,” he added.

Khosa revealed there was consensus among the PPP members on not writing to the Swiss authorities on reopening of cases against President Asif Ali Zardari, since he enjoyed immunity under the Constitution.

“How can we write to a Swiss magistrate about reopening of cases against the head of the state. The president is the symbol of federation and supreme commander of the armed forces. How can we ask the authorities abroad to investigate him,” he exclaimed.

The PPP government is now pinning hope on the ‘positive’ outcome of the review petition pending in the Supreme Court. “We hope that the immunity granted to the office of the president by the constitution will remain intact,” Khosa said.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had stated that his government would take a public stand on the apex court’s demand to reopen the Swiss cases involving President Asif Ali Zardari after the court’s decision on the NRO review petition. (ANI)