Vital evidence in Sharif case handed over to court

Vital evidence in Sharif case handed over to court
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

KARACHI, DEC 17: Pakistani prosecutors today handed over to an anti-terrorism court transcripts of audio recordings and a witness confession in the treason case against ousted premier Nawaz Sharif.

All the evidence in the case will now be un-sealed on Monday in the presence of lawyers from both sides. Judge Shabbir Ahmed then adjourned the hearing until Monday after the defence said some of their senior lawyers were not available. "Now we have provided the transcripts of important evidence in the case to the court. But the defence counsels are adopting delaying tactics," said public prosecutor Raja Qureshi.

Howeever the court is yet to decide whether the audio recording of the spools from the conversation between the pilot of the PIA flight that brought General Musharraf from Colombo to Karachi and the air traffic control at Karachi airport, can be used as evidence.

Advocate General Raja Qureshi told reporters that the sealed documents contain the statement of Aminullah Chaudhry, the chief of Pakistan'sCivil Aviation Authority, who turned state approver. The case now involves quite a bit of legalese on what can be admitted as evidence. The prosecution has submitted a list of 53 witnesses in the case, which include the pilot of the PIA flight as well. The former prime minister and his co-accused will now be formally charged by the court by the month end. The charges include kidnapping, sedition and hijacking.

In a related move, the military government has taken strict notice of a speech made by the former Pakistan premier in Lahore, where he had gone to attend the funeral of his mother-in-law earlier this week.

Sharif told his supporters at the residence of his mother-in-law that only four senior military officials were responsible for the coup of October 12 while the rest of the army was not in on the conspiracy.

This allegation goes against an agreement between Sharif's lawyers and the prosecution in the case against him . Under the agreement, no side was to make political statements that wouldaffect the proceedings in the trial. Sharif clearly stated in Lahore that his government was not overthrown by the army but by General Musharraf and four other generals after he had notified the appointment of General Ziauddin Butt as the new chief of army staff. A news report in the Karachi daily The Star said that Sharif was indicating that Lt Gen Mehmood, Lt Gen Aziz, Lt Gen Tauqir Zia and Lt Gen Usmani apart from Gen Musharraf were in on the coup.

Observers say that Sharif may now be charged with trying to divide the armed forces through his provocative statements.