PM wants focus on all NRO beneficiaries, not just politicians

* Gilani says every subsequent government has tried to hold politicians accountable, but failed

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday urged the media to give due attention to thousands of other beneficiaries of the National Reconciliation Ordinance in addition to politicians.

Talking to reporters at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex in Kamra, the prime minister said of the 8,041 beneficiaries under the ordinance, only 34 were politicians. Gilani said the list of the NRO beneficiaries had been drawn a long time ago and every subsequent government, including that of former president Pervez Musharraf, had tried to hold politicians accountable but had failed to do anything practical in this regard.

The prime minister said the list of beneficiaries was taken from the National Accountability Bureau and had been made public in line with a promise he had made to the parliament.

Minister of State for Law Afzal Sindhu released the names of 248 of the 8,041 beneficiaries on Saturday. The names included President Asif Zardari, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, PPP-S chief Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Dr Farooq Sattar, Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghauri, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister of State for Housing Tariq Anees, PPP Secretary General Jehangir Badar and Nusrat Bhutto. app

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