DATE=3/8/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAK / SHARIF (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-259964
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Pakistan's ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
has testified his removal by General Pervez Musharraf
occurred because of a division between the army and
the civilian government during last year's border
dispute with India. As Correspondent Scott Anger
reports, Mr. Sharif is facing charges of kidnapping,
attempted murder, and hijacking in connection with an
incident involving a plane carrying General Musharraf
last October.
TEXT: Nawaz Sharif stood before the special Anti-
terrorism court for the first time during his trial
and accused army chief General Pervez Musharraf of
holding a grudge against him. The ousted Prime
Minister says General Musharraf had prepared plans to
overthrow the civilian government after personal
differences arose between the two men.
Mr. Sharif says his differences with the general began
during border clashes with Indian forces last year in
the disputed region of Kashmir. India and Pakistan
came close to all-out war after Muslim militants
infiltrated part of Indian Kashmir near the town of
Kargil.
War was averted after Mr. Sharif agreed to convince
the militants to withdraw to the Pakistani-side of the
cease-fire line that divides Kashmir.
During his hour-long statement, Mr. Sharif told the
court he saved Pakistan from a major crisis.
General Musharraf was head of the army at the time of
the Kargil crisis. India has accused him of
masterminding the infiltration. Mr. Sharif says the
army was unhappy about the abrupt ending of the
showdown.
Prime Minister Sharif was ousted from power by the
army in a bloodless coup last October. He is on trial
for charges he denied landing rights to a civilian
passenger plane carrying General Musharraf and about
200 other passengers returning to Pakistan from Sri
Lanka. The plane, which was low on fuel, landed after
the army seized control of the country.
Prosecutors say the event endangered the lives of
everyone onboard the aircraft. If convicted, Nawaz
Sharif and the six co-defendants could face life in
prison or the death penalty. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/RAE
08-Mar-2000 07:59 AM EDT (08-Mar-2000 1259 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
