LAHORE, Jan 23: The National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) does not need a re-promulgation because like other ordinances issued at the time of the imposition of emergency on Nov 3, 2007, it is protected by the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO).

This view is being given by the officials in Punjab after a ruling by the Provincial Law Department that the constitutional limitation on the life of ordinances does not apply on those ordinances promulgated at the time of the imposition of the emergency under Article 5(2) of the PCO.

As per the ruling all ordinances issued on Nov 3, mainly the one banning kite flying and the Katchi Abadis Amendment Ordinance, need not any promulgation.

The second ordinance promulgated by the government of Pervaiz Elahi in its last days had raised questions as it had extended the deadline of legalising katchi abadis from the previous March 23, 1985 to Dec 31, 2006.

Officials said on Wednesday that Article 5(2) of the PCO provided that “all ordinances promulgated in force on Nov 3, 2007, shall remain in force irrespective of limitation of duration prescribed by the Constitution”.

The clause 1 of the article provides that the constitutional time limit on ordinances shall not apply to those promulgated on or after the imposition of the emergency.