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DATE=3/8/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAK / SHARIF (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259964
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif 
has testified his removal by General Pervez Musharraf 
occurred because of a division between the army and 
the civilian government during last year's border 
dispute with India.  As Correspondent Scott Anger 
reports, Mr. Sharif is facing charges of kidnapping, 
attempted murder, and hijacking in connection with an 
incident involving a plane carrying General Musharraf 
last October.
TEXT:  Nawaz Sharif stood before the special Anti-
terrorism court for the first time during his trial 
and accused army chief General Pervez Musharraf of 
holding a grudge against him.  The ousted Prime 
Minister says General Musharraf had prepared plans to 
overthrow the civilian government after personal 
differences arose between the two men.
Mr. Sharif says his differences with the general began 
during border clashes with Indian forces last year in 
the disputed region of Kashmir.  India and Pakistan 
came close to all-out war after Muslim militants 
infiltrated part of Indian Kashmir near the town of 
Kargil.
War was averted after Mr. Sharif agreed to convince 
the militants to withdraw to the Pakistani-side of the 
cease-fire line that divides Kashmir.
During his hour-long statement, Mr. Sharif told the 
court he saved Pakistan from a major crisis.
General Musharraf was head of the army at the time of 
the Kargil crisis.  India has accused him of 
masterminding the infiltration.  Mr. Sharif says the 
army was unhappy about the abrupt ending of the 
showdown.
Prime Minister Sharif was ousted from power by the 
army in a bloodless coup last October.  He is on trial 
for charges he denied landing rights to a civilian 
passenger plane carrying General Musharraf and about 
200 other passengers returning to Pakistan from Sri 
Lanka.  The plane, which was low on fuel, landed after 
the army seized control of the country.  
Prosecutors say the event endangered the lives of 
everyone onboard the aircraft.  If convicted, Nawaz 
Sharif and the six co-defendants could face life in 
prison or the death penalty.   (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/RAE
08-Mar-2000 07:59 AM EDT (08-Mar-2000 1259 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.