October 10, 2007	Wednesday	Ramazan 27, 1428

LAHORE, Oct 9: Representatives of intellectuals and writers have denounced the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) rejecting it as humiliating and against fundamental human rights.

They have also announced launching of a campaign for repeal of the law.

Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, renowned lawyer Abid Hasan Minto flanked by Dr Masoom Abidi, Prof Nisar Safdar, Saeeda Deep and Husain Majroh, said through the ordinance the government had avenged what they called its humiliation at the hands of judiciary.

Minto said the law was a declaration by the powers that be that 160 million people of the country were their virtual slaves having no voice in their political life.

“There is no rule of law in the country. Only the world of sovereign is the law,” he deplored.

He regretted that a government which had based its foundation on fight against incompetence, corruption and lawlessness and on accountability of the wrong had pushed the nation into darkness by enacting a so-called reconciliation law after eight years of rule.

On behalf of intelligentsia of the country, he appealed to conscientious people not to ignore what he termed a tragedy otherwise the society would plunge into a deep sea of corruption, abuse of human rights, rioting and immorality.

Declaring the ordinance a violation of the Constitution, he urged the higher judiciary to immediately take a note of it as no ordinance against basic human rights and values could be promulgated

Alluding to Pakistan People’s Party stance, he regretted that a fairly large party, which had played a heroic role in the past, capitulated to the regime and compromised on the things which were against the essence of its politics.

“The basic thing is rule of law, ending armed forces’ role in politics and establishing supremacy of the Constitution, but nothing has been done in this regard as the army is still calling shots which is regrettable.”

Lauding resignations from party by Naseerullah Babar and Qazi Anwar, Mr Minto said PPP leaders Aitzaz Ahsan, Raza Rabbani and Farhatullah Babar were good political activists and they too should have taken a stand on the deal issue.

He was of the view that the deal could have been foiled if two-dozen or so PPP leaders had submitted their resignations from the party against the NRO.

He said a thinkers’ body was being established to motivate writers and intellectuals against the law.

Demanding suo motu action on the ordinance by the Supreme Court, he announced that they would also approach the International Court of Justice in this respect.