Pak govt gets breather in NRO standoff with Supreme Court

Islamabad, Sep 28 (ANI): In what may have come as a breather to the Pakistan government, the Supreme Court has accepted its plea to decide the National Reconciliation Ordinance review petition before hearing the NRO implementation case.

The three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, has fixed October 13 as the date to start hearing on the pending review petition, the Daily Times reported.

Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq filed an application on behalf of the federal government, requesting adjournment of the NRO implementation case until a final decision on the federation's review petition against the December 16, 2009 judgment of the apex court, which declared the NRO ultra vires to certain provisions of the constitution.

In its application, the federation prayed to the court that the PM had been very busy in connection with state affairs, the flood situation and international commitments, therefore wishing to further consider and discuss the legal aspects of the matter. The apex court accepted the plea and fixed the date of hearing on the pending review petition.

However, the bench directed the Attorney General and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to submit a complete report over the Swiss accounts of President Asif Ali Zardari, besides giving details of the people who had benefited from the NRO and their cases pending in foreign courts. (ANI)