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Let court decide NRO’s fate: PM

* Gilani says NRO a ‘non-issue’
* Seeks lawmakers’ help in addressing ‘real issues’
* Political forces divided over Musharraf’s legacy

By Irfan Ghauri

ISLAMABAD: A day after the government decided to withdraw the NRO from parliament, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani branded it a “non-issue”, and called on lawmakers to leave the fate of the NRO to the judiciary and facilitate the government in addressing the “real issues” confronting the masses.

Opposition parties – which previously appeared united in dealing with the NRO – were divided in the National Assembly on Tuesday over the legacy of former president Pervez Musharraf. Some PML-Q members said Musharraf should be given credit for good steps taken during his tenure.

Members of the PPP– including Gilani – and the PML-N attended the proceedings wearing black armbands to mark November 3 as a ‘black day’.

Addressing the House, Gilani said in line with the prevailing atmosphere of the National Assembly and allied parties’ advice, the government decided to withdraw the controversial ordinance, and “it is now a non-issue”. He said before making a statement on the floor of the House on Monday, he took the PML-N chief on board.

“Let the court decide it. We will accept whatever the court decides. The House should not be divided on a non-issue. The focus should be on real issues... we have to show political maturity,” he said, adding that he had convened a special cabinet meeting to launch an austerity drive, discuss inflation, the shortage of essentials and gas, electricity load shedding and other issues confronting the common man. He said the government would also form a policy to ensure that all appointments were made on merit.

Gilani said he had asked the parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms to expedite the process of finalising proposals. He called for unity among political forces. “We must protect our fragile democracy. We will fulfil the pledges we made under the Charter of Democracy,” he said. PML-N members – including Chaudhry Nisar Ali – praised the government for not tabling the NRO in parliament, and reiterated their stance to “bring Musharraf to justice”. Bushra Gohar of the Awami National Party supported the PML-N’s stance against Musharraf.

Akram Masih Gill of the PML-Q said Musharraf must be given credit for the positive steps he took during his regime.

Marvi Memon said she wanted to table a resolution against the Kerry-Lugar law.

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