PPP leadership asks NRO beneficiary cabinet ministers to resign

Islamabad, Nov. 23 (ANI): The top leadership of the Pakistan People' Party has reportedly told its cabinet ministers, who were named in the Law Ministry's list of people having benefited from the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), to resign from their offices and face trial.

"Yes, the PPP leadership has conveyed to NRO beneficiary ministers to quit their offices voluntarily before the party asks them to tender their resignations," the Daily Times quoted a PPP source, as saying.

The Pakistan Law Ministry this weekend released the names of politicians, who benefited from the NRO or an amnesty decree that dismissed past alleged crimes.

The PPP also asked them to face their cases in courts instead of "becoming a liability to the government".

According to the source, the leadership's message was clear, that if the co-chairman of the party could face cases against him and remain in jails, then so should they.

"President Asif Ali Zardari, who is also the co-chairman of the party, will continue in his office and will face the cases, as he has been doing in the past, after he leaves office," he said.

The insider added that the party had asked certain ministers, reportedly involved in corruption scandals, to defend themselves in front of the media or vacate their positions.

"If any minister is not ready to defend himself or the party, he should resign," he said. (ANI)