By NNN-PTI
Islamabad : Pakistan government is close to bringing an ordinance which is expected to grant amnesty to former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and other important political leaders in corruption cases against them.
Quoting unnamed sources, private Geo TV reported that final touches were being given to the National Reconciliation Ordinance, which would pave the way for withdrawal of cases against Bhutto, exiled former Premier Nawaz Sharif and other important political leaders.
The ordinance would quash all corruption cases registered against politicians and other important persons between 1988 and 1999, the sources said.
President Pervez Musharraf, who is seeking re-election the October six poll, yesterday told Geo that he wanted to drop the cases against Sharif and other political leaders as part of the national reconciliation. Senior Ministers had also stated earlier that Bhutto would be granted amnesty.
However, Bhutto, who lives in self-imposed exile, said in London yesterday that reports of amnesty to her were a “disinformation campaign” and that her talks with Musharraf were “totally stalled.” Meanwhile, a session of the National Assembly, lower house of Pakistan Parliament, which was scheduled for today, was put off for a day, apparently to facilitate a reconciliation between the government and Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
An ordinance granting amnesty to Bhutto in corruption cases and allowing her to have a third term as Prime Minister – currently barred under the Constitution – cannot be issued if the National Assembly is in session.