DATE=1/28/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAK / SHARIF TRIAL (S ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258524
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=KARACHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In the trial of Pakistan's ousted prime
minister, Nawaz Sharif, a senior police official has
testified that he was ordered to take control of the
airport in Karachi. As VOA's Scott Anger reports from
Karachi, Mr. Sharif and six co-defendants have been
accused of trying to prevent the landing of a plane
carrying Pakistan's army chief.
TEXT: Security remained tight around the courtroom as
Karachi's former police chief, Mohammed Akbar, told
the court how he was ordered by his boss - who is one
of the co-defendants in the case - to take control of
the city's civilian airport. He says he refused
because the army had already arrived.
Mr. Akbar says he received a similar order from Nawaz
Sharif's chief provincial advisor, who told him the
orders had come from the prime minister himself.
Nawaz Sharif and six others are accused of kidnapping,
attempted murder and hijacking. The allegations stem
from an incident on October 12th when a plane carrying
army chief General Pervez Musharraf was prevented from
landing in Karachi. The plane was reportedly low on
fuel. The government says Mr. Sharif wanted the
aircraft to crash.
If convicted, the seven men could face the death
penalty or life in prison. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/KL
28-Jan-2000 08:28 AM EDT (28-Jan-2000 1328 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
