SC questions need for NRO verdict review

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) resumed hearing of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) review case Tuesday and gave critical remarks on the federation’s status as an incumbent, Geo News reported.

A full court headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry heard the case and questioned that if the federal government was not affected by the SC’s verdict on NRO then why a review case was filed.

The court allowed former law minister Babar Awan to appeal the case on behalf of the federation on merit. In his arguments, Awan said that it is a court order that the accused cannot be punished in absentia and that is why closed cases cannot be reopened. Similarly, the SC cannot instruct the federation to reopen cases abroad.

The chief justice while hearing the case questioned if the government is backing a law under which corruption flourished. He further said that a federation gains popularity if it does not support a black law and appreciated the current parliament for not approving the NRO.