Architect of NRO Musharraf must also be tried: Pak PM

Lahore, May 17 (ANI): Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the architect of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), Pervez Musharraf, should also face accountability.

Talking to a delegation of Lahore Press Club office-bearers, he said Law Minister Babar Awan would appear before the Supreme Court on May 25 and apprise it of the implementation of the apex court verdict on the NRO, as an official of the government.

Gilani said the government would implement the SC verdicts and cooperate with it on the NRO issue, and added that would have been better if the architect of the NRO had also been called for his version.

Gilani said the then ruling Government of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q and its allied parties had, initially, refused to endorse the NRO.

Musharraf, while addressing a cabinet meeting, had warned the PML-Q that if they did not endorse the NRO, Benazir Bhutto would become the Prime Minister for the third time, as the Q-League was reluctant to accept Benazir as the PM, it approved the NRO.

"My government is committed to strengthening the institutions, including the Supreme Court. For the first time, the PPP has changed its stance and it has taken the establishment into confidence over to the current political, economic and geographical situation of the country," The News quoted Gilani, as saying.

"I always consult the establishment as well as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and the Chief Justice of Pakistan over various issues. We have adopted the policy of reconciliation and we do not want any clash amongst the institutions," Gilani said.

He said he had welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court regarding the promotion of bureaucrats and directed the principal secretary to formulate the rules in the light of the SC verdict.

Gilani said the army regained its respect over the issue of war on terror and it was all because of parliament's support.

He said neither the PPP nor the PML-N played any significant role in the removal of Pervez Musharraf, as he was sent packing because of pressure of the international community. (ANI)