DATE=11/27/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN-SHARIF PARTY (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256567
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's
political party is accusing the new military
administration of mistreating Mr. Sharif in prison.
As Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad, the ousted prime
minister and his six aids are being held for their
alleged involvement in events that led to last month's
military coup in Pakistan.
TEXT: Mr. Sharif's lawyers and his political party,
the Pakistan Muslim League, say the former prime
minister is being held in unsatisfactory living
conditions. A senior leader of the party, Raja Zafar-
ul Haq, says Mr. Sharif is being treated as if he had
already been convicted.
/// Haq Act ///
That leaves very little to hope that the trial
will be conducted in a fair manner. This looks
to be a total vendetta, victimization. The
treatment that they (Mr. Sharif and his six co-
defendants) are being meted out is worse than
the treatment meted out to the captured soldiers
of an enemy army.
/// End Act ///
Mr. Sharif and six other officials from his ousted
government are accused of ordering airport authorities
to refuse landing rights to a plane carrying the army
chief, General Pervez Musharraf. At the time, the
plane was dangerously low on fuel and eventually
landed after the military seized power and overthrew
Mr. Sharif.
The ousted prime minister and his six aids are accused
of endangering the lives of the 200 passengers on
board the plane along with General Musharraf.
Mr. Sharif denies the charge and accuses General
Musharraf of carrying out a personal vendetta. Mr.
Zafar-ul-Haq says international human rights groups
should monitor the court proceedings against the
former Prime Minister and other co-defendants.
/// Haq Act ///
I think the international agencies should
monitor the proceedings. They should monitor
the trial of the case. U-N human rights
commission, international bar association,
amnesty international, they should ensure that
they are being treated well. They should ensure
that the trial is held in an atmosphere in which
witnesses could tell the truth and that they are
not victimized.
/// End Act ///
An anti-terrorism court is scheduled to file charges
against the ousted prime minister and the others on
December the fourth, after which a trial will begin.
Under Pakistan's anti-terrorism laws - put in place by
Mr. Sharif - a conviction carries the death penalty.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AG/JP
27-Nov-1999 08:04 AM EDT (27-Nov-1999 1304 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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