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DATE=1/12/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAK / SHARIF / L
NUMBER=2-257978
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  A high court judge in Pakistan refused 
Wednesday to hear the case of treason and hijacking 
against ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.  As 
Correspondent Scott Anger reports, the judge was 
protesting the presence of a large group of 
intelligence agents in the courtroom.
TEXT:   High Court Judge Shabir Ahmed has ordered the 
case against Mr. Sharif and six others to be returned 
to a lower court.  He became angry when he found a 
number of intelligence officials in the courtroom in 
Karachi Wednesday.  Witnesses say most of the 
plainclothes agents fled after he ordered their 
arrest.  The judge says a fair trial cannot be 
provided under these circumstances.
Akram Sheik, a supreme court lawyer in Islamabad, says 
it is Judge Ahmed's responsibility -- as the 
administrative judge -- to control the proceedings. 
            ///SHEIK ACTUALITY///
The courtroom has to be managed and regulated by the 
presiding judge.  And if the judge has observed that 
the presence of the security are (is) causing an 
impediment in the fair trial, then he was absolutely 
justified in saying so.
            ///END ACTUALITY///
The move sends the case back down to a lower judge in 
the special anti-terrorism court.  Legislation 
governing Pakistan's special courts requires a high 
court judge to preside over the case.  However, it is 
within the power of the administrative judge to pass 
the case to any judge in the anti-terrorism court 
system of the country.
Nawaz Sharif, his younger brother Shahbaz and five 
others are accused of criminal conspiracy, attempted 
murder and hijacking.  The allegations stem from an 
incident October 12th when a plane carrying army chief 
General Pervez Musharraf was prevented from landing in 
Karachi.  The plane was low on fuel and the country's 
military government alleges its former prime minister 
wanted the aircraft to crash.  Hours later, Mr. Sharif 
was removed in a bloodless military coup.
Nawaz Sharif insists that he is innocent and says the 
military is carrying out a vendetta against him.  The 
case has been adjourned until January 17th.  (SIGNED)
NEB/SA / WD
12-Jan-2000 04:45 AM EDT (12-Jan-2000 0945 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.