[Reader-list] NFC-Yes!; NRO-No! Bravo Pakistan

[Kshmendra Kaul]

In two weeks of December 2009 there have been two major developments in Pakistan, which will have far reaching consequences in bettering the situation in a Pakistan that is otherwise currently in a lot of turmoil.
 
The first was the consensus reached between the four Provinces of Pakistan on the National Finance Commission (NFC) formula for division of resources beteen the Provinces and the Federal Govt.
 
It is extremely unfortunate that this significant achievement in Pakistan received scant coverage in the Indian Media. 
 
With this, the only major contentious issue between the Provinces of Pakistan is the distribution of the River-Waters and the building (or not) and location of Dams.
 
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/19-nfc-award-hh-01
 
 
The second major development is a 17 member bench of Pakistan's Supreme Court declaring Un-Constitutional the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
 
The NRO was an ordinance issued by Dictator Musharraf which allowed some people to seek amnesty in cases registered against them for various criminal acts. Increasingly the NRO was being derided and described as "Kala Kanoon" (Black Law).
 
The Court has directed that all such cases be reinstituted. Most of those who had benefitted in 8041 such reported cases are Politicians, Bureaucrats and Businessmen.
 
President Zardari (who received amnestys under the NRO) is protected by the Constitution of Pakistan from any criminal prosecution action against him till the time he is President.
 
Kshmendra