Government set to withdraw 507 corruption cases

Islamabad: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is planning to withdraw 507 cases of corruption, worth millions of dollars, against various politicians, government servants, businessmen, and ex-armed forces officers.

According to the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) promulgated on Friday, the amnesty, which pardons corruption during 1986 to 1999, would likely benefit several important politicians and former government servants.

Reliable sources in the NAB told Gulf News yesterday some of the top beneficiaries include Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairwoman Benazir Bhutto, her spouse Asif Ali Zardari, her father-in-law Hakim Ali Zardari and Mir Munawar Talpur, the husband of presidential candidate Faryal Talpur.

Syed Khurshid Shah, Pir Mazharul Haq and Jehangir Badr (all PPP), Altaf Hussain, the supreme leader of the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), former prime minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) president Shahbaz Sharif and acting president Makhdoom Javed Hashmi will also benefit from the amnesty.

The NAB sources said there are almost 50 politicians, bureaucrats and businessman who stand to benefit from the ordinance.

Numerous cases

Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto faces a number of cases, including the "ARY Gold Reference" Assets Case.

She allegedly filed a mis-declaration of assets before the Election Commission ahead of the 1985 general elections and failed to submit complete details of the assets she owned.

She also faces charges for the alleged commission of two Swiss companies, SGS and Cotecna, through offshore companies. The Swiss Government has decided to continue prosecution of the case despite the government's withdrawal.

Benazir's father-in-law, Hakim Ali Zardari, faces at least two cases before Karachi's Accountability Court, and her sister-in-law's husband, Mir Munawwar Talpur, faces cases before the Hyderabad Anti-Corruption Court.

The MQM legislator Faisal Sabzwari told Gulf News there were thousands of cases against party workers.

Although they were criminal in content and allegation, the spirit behind the institution or registration of these cases was purely political, he claimed.

He also said Altaf Hussain was booked in the case of the murder of Syed Ehsan Shah, the brother of former Sindh chief minister Syed Abdullah Shah.

Promulgation: Two ministers stand to gain from the deal

Two ministers charged with corruption, as well as a number of politicians and officials, stand to benefit from Friday's promulgation by President Pervez Musharraf of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), the result of a deal he worked out with Benazir Bhutto to withdraw corruption cases against her.

Federal home minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and Water and Power Minister Liaqat Jatoi, who are both charged with corruption, stand to gain from the ordinance.

They are among those who switched sides to join the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim league (Quaid) and received ministerial posts.

Sources said the NAB filed almost 1,190 cases in the courts - of which decisions were reached in 683 cases with 465 people convicted and 126 acquitted.

They said NAB investigation officers across the country have been ordered to file details of the cases pending with them.

- IANS