NRO to benefit 25000 MQM workers

Islamabad, Oct 6 (UNI) As many as 25000 workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement would benefit from an Ordinance promulgated by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf that gives amnesty to politicians and bureaucrats.

The legislation was part of the power sharing deal between the government and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto as it paves the way for the president of Pakistan People's Party to return home from a self-imposed exile. Ms Bhutto has set October 18 as her date of return.

With the National Reconciliation Ordinance, 2007 coming into effect all cases constituted against public officials having tenure between January 1, 1986 to October 12, 1999, will be withdrawn and terminated with immediate effect.

The Ordinance also seeks to terminate all cases initiated in foreign countries by the government during this period, clearly benefiting Ms Bhutto. The NRO has also clipped the powers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) regarding arresting parliamentarians without the prior permission of a newly-formed Special Parliamentary Committee on Ethics.

The MQM had the maximum number of cases, including that of ransom and murder, against its workers which would now by put the review board being set up at Karachi. A retired judge of the Sindh High Court would head the board, The News reported.

UNI