Committee approves 5 clauses of NRO with majority

ISLAMABAD: The standing committee of National Assembly has granted approval to the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) with majority, however, it rejected its two clauses relating to arrest of MNAs.

The opposition members staged walk out in protest of NRO’s approval.

The NA standing committee on law and justice met under the chairmanship of Begum Nasim Akhtar Chaudhry here on Friday.

The meeting came to a decision through voting after reviewing in detail each of the seven clauses of NRO.

Prior to the voting, committee member Amir Muqam demanded that details of people benefiting from NRO be provided so that it is known whether only political cases were dropped or there were other cases relating to homicide.

On refusal to provide these details, the members of Pakistan Muslim League staged protest.

Later, the committee approved five clauses of NRO with majority. It rejected clauses number 4 and 5 which were relating to seeking approval from the NA’s relevant committee in connection with arrest of MNAs.

The committee amended NRO’s clause number 7 by removing the words ‘Public Office Holder’ from it and added words of getting the cases dismissed by courts.

The opposition members walked out during the final phase of NRO’s approval.

Later, the committee member, Zahid Hamid told media that during clause-wise voting, 7 votes came in favor while 6 were against the approval.

MQM members and Riaz Futyana did not participated in the voting.