DATE=12/7/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN / SHARIF / L
NUMBER=2-256916
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Pakistan's ousted prime minister has appeared
before the country's supreme court, in a hearing re-
opening a contempt of court case against his political
party. As Correspondent Scott Anger reports from
Islamabad, Nawaz Sharif is also waiting for a special
anti-terrorism court to file formal criminal charges
against him for actions leading to the military
takeover in October.
TEXT: The former prime minister was brought before
the Supreme Court amid tight security. Mr. Sharif --
the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League -- has been
named in a lawsuit against his party. The case stems
from an incident in 1997, when several party members
allegedly disrupted proceeding of the supreme court
during a dispute between Mr. Sharif and a former
justice of the court, Sajjad Ali Shah.
Although he has not been charged in the case, the
supreme court ordered Mr. Sharif to testify.
The court has adjourned the case until January 12th to
allow the parties to prepare responses. In its
earlier judgement of the contempt case in May, the
court ruled insufficient evidence existed to prove the
allegations. The court decided to re-open the case
when a petition was filed by a private citizen.
During the hearing Tuesday, Mr. Sharif made a brief
statement complaining about prison conditions. He has
been under arrest since the military took power after
a bloodless coup October 12th.
Mr. Sharif is scheduled to be taken back to Karachi to
appear in a special anti-terrorism court Wednesday.
He is facing charges of conspiracy, attempted murder
and hijacking -- charges which could carry the death
penalty. The charges are based on allegations Mr.
Sharif and others attempted to kill army chief General
Pervez Musharraf by diverting his plane back to
Karachi from Sri Lanka. Shortly after the incident,
the military ousted the Sharif government. Formal
charges are expected to be filed in the case later
this week. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/WD
07-Dec-1999 06:36 AM EDT (07-Dec-1999 1136 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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