4 November 2009,
The President chaired a meeting attended by Prime Minister and some senior federal minister besides Senator Raza Rabbani chairman of the parliamentary panel currently working on repeal of 17th Amendment in order to clip presidential powers. Earlier, he went into intense consultation separately with top leaders of coalition partners including Maulana Fazlur Rehman (JUI), Asfandyar Wali Khan (ANP) and Dr. Farooq Sattar (MQM).
The meeting was held against backdrop of MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s sensational statement that his party would oppose the NRO and that he had advised the President to make even extreme sacrifice to save the democratic system from being derailed. Most analysts said Altaf indirectly confirmed media reports that he had advised the President to step down.
The day-long activity in the National Assembly, the media and the President House made it clear that the government lacked numbers to get the NRO through the Parliament.
A significant meeting between the Prime Minister and army chief Gen. Pervez Kayani spurred speculations that the government is under Mr. Zardari from the army as well to blink from its rigid stance and desist from pressing the NRO in the Parliament.
Kayani reported referred to ongoing military operation in Waziristan and unabated tide of violence and suicide bombing in the country hoping the government would not exacerbate the delicate situation by escalating tensions on NRO.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani speaking in the National Assembly on Tuesday described the decision as a response to the will of the parliament that appeared to be not in favour of introducing the NRO.
He said all the beneficiaries of the National Reconciliation Ordinance would now face the courts to clear themselves from corruption and other charges.
Eminent jurist and leader of Lawyers’ Movement, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan welcomed the government decision as wise and pragmatic in view of the fact that it lacked majority in the parliament.
He said some of top figures in the government would be immediately affected and their cases would reopen in the court.
“However, President Asif Zardari enjoys immunity while in office and cannot be prosecuted during this period,” Aitzaz said.