DATE=4/7/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAK - VERDICT - REACT (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-261040
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=KARACHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Reaction to the conviction and sentencing of
Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been
subdued around the country. As
correspondent Scott Anger reports, most people agree
with the life sentence Mr. Sharif received for his
role in the diversion of a passenger plane last
October.
TEXT: On the bustling streets of Pakistan's largest
city, Karachi, people like Aftab Shansuddin agree with
the guilty verdict against former prime minister Nawaz
Sharif.
///Shansuddin Actuality///
People think he did the wrong thing. Nobody will
react too much.
///End Act///
People have not reacted much at all. Even in Nawaz
Sharif's hometown, Lahore, few protesters were
reported to have appeared on the streets
following Thursday's judgment.
Nawaz Sharif has been sentenced to serve two life-in-
prison sentences after being convicted of hijacking
and terrorism. The former prime minister was
acquitted on the charges of attempted murder and
kidnapping. Lawyers say
Mr. Sharif will spend about 25-years in prison if the
convictions are upheld by Pakistan's higher courts.
His younger brother Shahbaz and five
co-defendants have been found innocent of all the
charges filed against them.
The charges against the seven men stemmed from October
12th, when a civilian passenger plane carrying army
chief General Pervez Musharraf, was
prevented from landing in Karachi. The judge hearing
the case says Mr. Sharif ordered the aircraft to be
diverted from landing -- a move he says endangered the
lives of all on board because the aircraft was running
low on fuel. The plane eventually landed after troops
loyal to General
Musharraf took control of the airport.
Younis Paracha, a shop owner in Karachi's central
business district says people are not taking interest
in Nawaz Sharif's sentencing because they feel
Pakistani politicians -- such as the ousted prime
minister -- are too corrupt.
///Paracha Act///
People who are in power and have been in power, have
destroyed the country. And that's why people are not
coming out for Nawaz Sharif. They know it is these
people who have destroyed the country and that why
people aren't coming out on the street.
///End Act///
Last October, the army also felt the government was
destroying Pakistan. When Mr. Sharif tried to fire
army chief General Musharraf, the military
fought back and seized control of the country.
General Musharraf, Pakistan's military leader and
chief executive, says he ousted Mr. Sharif and his
elected government because it had eroded vital
institutions in the country. The general says Nawaz
Sharif silenced political opposition, cracked down on
the news media and weakened the
judiciary.
While some may say General Musharraf had political
reasons for bringing charges against Mr. Sharif, Javed
Jabbar, spokesman for the military
government, says the trial was conducted in an open
and transparent manner.
///Jabbar Act///
Every minute of this trial has been minutely observed
by dozens of international and national observers who
have not pointed out a single
instance where the court has deviated from the norms
of justice.
///End Act///
Lawyers for Mr. Sharif say they will appeal the
conviction to the provincial high court in Karachi.
They say they may file the appeal as early as next
week. If the court rejects the appeal petition,
lawyers say they will then take their case to
Pakistan's Supreme Court in Islamabad.
The lack of protests in response to the guilty verdict
is similar to the sentiments after Mr. Sharif's ouster
by the military last October. Many Pakistanis say
they were angry with him before he was deposed.
Observers say it is the same sentiment now and that is
why there were few, if any, pubic protests against his
conviction. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/PLM
TEXT:
NEB/WTW/
07-Apr-2000 07:01 AM EDT (07-Apr-2000 1101 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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