DATE=1/29/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAK - SHARIF TRIAL (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258557
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=KARACHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The criminal trial of Pakistan's ousted Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif has wrapped up its first week
with prosecution witnesses testifying how Karachi's
civilian airport had been shut down. As correspondent
Scott Anger reports from Karachi, Mr. Sharif and six
co-defendants have been accused of trying to prevent
the landing of the plane carrying army chief General
Pervez Musharraf, the night the military seized the
country in a bloodless coup October 12th.
TEXT: Air traffic control officer Mohammad Asif
testified how he had been ordered to shut off the
runway lights at Karachi's airport to prevent the
landing of the passenger plane, carrying General
Musharraf and about 200 others back to Pakistan from
Sri Lanka. Mr. Asif described how fire fighting
vehicles had been moved onto the runway to further
prevent the plane from touching down.
The control tower employee told the court how he was
ordered to divert all incoming flights to alternate
airports and to direct the General's flight to an
airport at Nawabshah, north of Karachi.
A police official from Nawabshah, Eshanullah Gondal,
says he had been ordered by his superiors to surround
the passenger plane and not let anyone on or off the
aircraft. But before the plane could reach the
alternate airport, the military seized control of the
country allowing the flight to land without incident
in Karachi.
Earlier in the week, a prosecution witness testified
how Nawaz Sharif first ordered that the plane be
prevented from landing anywhere in Pakistan. But once
it was realized that the plane lacked enough fuel to
land outside the country, the decision was made to
force it to Nawabshah.
Nawaz Sharif and six others are accused of kidnapping,
attempted murder and hijacking. The government says
Mr. Sharif and the others wanted the plane to crash.
If convicted on the charge of hijacking, the seven men
could face the death penalty or life in prison.
Mr. Sharif and the others have pleaded not guilty to
the charges.
The prosecution is trying to establish that the coup
was a reaction to the prime minister's attempt to fire
General Musharraf and stop him from returning to
Pakistan.
Defense lawyers say Mr. Sharif tried to stop the
aircraft from landing after the army had launched its
coup.
The trial resumes Wednesday. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/PLM
29-Jan-2000 07:23 AM EDT (29-Jan-2000 1223 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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