DATE=5/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249311
TITLE=PAK / BHUTTO (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PAKISTAN'S SUPREME COURT SAYS FORMER PRIME MINISTER AND
OPPOSITION LEADER BENAZIR BHUTTO CANNOT CHALLENGE HER CONVICTION
ON CORRUPTION CHARGES UNTIL SHE RETURNS TO PAKISTAN. AS
CORRESPONDENT SCOTT ANGER REPORTS, MS. BHUTTO REMAINS OUT OF THE
COUNTRY AND COULD FACE ARREST IF SHE RETURNS.
TEXT: A SENIOR OFFICIAL WITH PAKISTAN'S SUPREME COURT SAYS MS.
BHUTTO MUST RETURN TO PAKISTAN BEFORE SHE WILL BE ALLOWED TO
APPEAL HER CONVICTION, WHICH WAS HANDED DOWN BY A LOWER COURT.
BUT FARHATULLAH BABAR, SPOKESMAN FOR MS. BHUTTO'S "PAKISTAN
PEOPLES PARTY", SAYS SHE HAS NO IMMEDIATE PLANS TO RETURN FROM
THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES CITY, DUBAI.
/// BABER ACT ///
SHE SHOULD NOT COME BACK UNTIL THE PARTY GIVES HER THE GREEN
SIGNAL. BUT RIGHT NOW, NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO WHEN TO
COME BACK.
/// END ACT ///
LAST MONTH, A SPECIAL ACCOUNTABILITY BENCH OF THE LAHORE HIGH
COURT CONVICTED THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER AND HER HUSBAND,
SENATOR ASIF ZARDARI, ON CHARGES OF TAKING KICKBACKS FROM A SWISS
FIRM WHILE IN OFFICE.
THE TWO HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO FIVE-YEARS IN JAIL AND HAVE BEEN
FINED EIGHT-POINT-SIX MILLION-DOLLARS. THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN
DISQUALIFIED FROM HOLDING PUBLIC OFFICE.
THE COUPLE DENIES THE CHARGES, SAYING THEY HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED
BY PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF -- WHO THEY ACCUSE OF TRYING TO
ELIMINATE THE OPPOSITION PARTY MS. BHUTTO HEADS. A CHARGE THE
GOVERNMENT REJECTS.
LAWYERS FOR MS. BHUTTO SAY THEY HAVE 30-DAYS TO RE-SUBMIT AN
APPEAL -- THIS TIME DIRECTLY TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME
COURT.
MEANWHILE, THE SUPREME COURT HAS AGREED TO HEAR HER HUSBAND'S
CASE SATURDAY. MR. ZARDARI HAS BEEN IN JAIL SINCE THE DISMISSAL
OF HIS WIFE'S GOVERNMENT ON CHARGES OF CORRUPTION AND MISRULE, IN
1996. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/RAE
13-May-99 8:35 AM EDT (1235 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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