“Whereas it is expedient promoting national reconciliation, fostering

mutual trust and confidence amongst holders of public office and removing the vestiges of political vendetta and victimization, and to make the election process more transparent.”

–National Reconciliation Ordinance

On 5 October 2007, President Musharraf granted the politicians amnesty for their corruption in the form of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). This development came after the charter of democracy which was signed between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party on 14 May 2006. NRO encouraged the politicians to participate in the elections to be held in 2008. However, on 16 December 2009, the Supreme Court ruled the NRO as unconstitutional.

The recent developments in the political landscape give a vague notion regarding a ‘neo-NRO’ for Nawaz Sharif. There are speculations regarding the trip of Nawaz to Saudi Arabia that he will be granted amnesty like in 2007. However, in return, he will leave politics which is quite the opposite to that of the development in 2007.