LAHORE - Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Anwar Qazi has said that the ministers who got benefit from controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) should immediately resign from their offices and face cases before courts. After the lapse of NRO, he added, Asif Ali Zardaris nomination as President was now 'open to question and the SC would have to decide his (president) candidature in any case. He was addressing a Press conference after the maiden meeting of SCBAs executive body at Karachi Shuhada Hall of the Lahore High Court Bar Association here on Tuesday. I want to clear one thing. I have no personal animosity against Zardari. In my opinion, Zardari was not eligible to contest presidential election at all because corruption cases were pending against him at that time, Anwar Qazi clarified. He said that under article 248, 41, 62 and 63 he (Zardari) was not eligible to contest elections at the time of his nomination. He cited the example of Italy where a constitutional court had recently overturned a law granting Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi immunity from prosecution while in office because the judges said immunity violated the principle that all citizens were equal. He said that system in Pakistan had crippled down, as everyone was busy in looting money by hook or crook. Menace of corruption, bribery and dishonesty has taken its toll on the national resources that has destructed our very foundation, he added. Qazi pledged that the lawyers would continue their struggle for uprooting these evils, which has made people lives miserable. Shedding light on the NRO, he said this black law was promulgated on October 5, 2007 and lapsed on February 4, 2008 after expiry of 120 days. The cases, which were closed during that period, would be re-opened only once SC declared the law against the Constitution. As far as cases abolished after February 4 they stood re-opened automatically. He pointed out that SCBA had decided to award pension to the Bar members who were aging 70 or above. He also announced that the Lawyers Coordination Council, which was set up to steer lawyers movement, had been revived in the wake of ongoing terrorism and political instability. Answering to a question, he explained that the Council had been revived to achieve the goal of 'independence of judiciary, which was still a far dream. We want to see the entire judiciary including subordinate judges independent in all affairs including financial and administrative matters, he said. To another question, the SCBA President said the judges appointment should be made on merit and the men of integrity should be entrusted this Godly job. He, however, made it clear that the Bar Associations had nothing to do with the appointment of the judges. Persons enjoy good reputation should be made judges otherwise they would make justice a saleable commodity at the expense of poor people seeking justice for decades, he maintained. SCBA through a resolution also condemned increase in petroleum prices, death of MPA Dr Shamsher in Swat in a suicide attack and ban on a media group.