Islamabad: Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday
terminated the services of two officials who had benefited
from a graft amnesty annulled by the Supreme Court though
there was no word on whether the government would act against
more influential beneficiaries of the controversial law.
Gilani terminated the services of Peer Mukarram-ul- Haq,
Executive Director of the Printing Corporation of Pakistan,
with retrospective effect from September 2004, when he was
convicted by an anti corruption court.
The premier also terminated the contract appointment of
Sadiq Ali Khan, Managing Director of the Federal Employees
Benevolent and Group Insurance Funds, with effect from August
2009.
Both Haq and Khan had benefited from the National
Reconciliation Ordinance, a graft amnesty issued by former
President Pervez Musharraf as part of a secret understanding
with the Pakistan People's Party, which heads the current
ruling coalition.
Over 8,000 people, including President Asif Ali Zardari
and several of his close aides, benefited from the NRO, which
was struck down by the apex court last year.
The government has ruled out the reopening of graft
cases against Zardari in Switzerland despite pressure from the
apex court, saying the President enjoys immunity from
prosecution.
The government has also given no indication it will act
against other beneficiaries of the NRO, including federal
Ministers Rehman Malik and Babar Awan.
Experts pointed out that the two officials sacked today
were not key players and said the government's action seemed
to be aimed at appeasing the judiciary.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, October 13, 2010, 22:24