ATC says he was ordered to divert Musharraf's plane

ATC says he was ordered to divert Musharraf's plane
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

KARACHI, FEBRUARY 9: A Karachi air traffic controller told a court here today how he was ordered to divert a plane carrying the Pakistan army chief just hours before a military coup.

Deposed premier Nawaz Sharif and six officials are on trial at an anti-terrorism court for hijacking the plane, abduction, attempted murder and terrorism.

All seven men have pleaded not guilty but they face the death penalty if convicted of the hijacking charge.

Witnesses have told the court how Sharif ordered the Pakistan International Airlines commercial jet, carrying army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf, was not allowed to land in Pakistan.

Defence lawyers argue Sharif was acting after the army staged a coup.

The plane landed safely at Karachi after the army took the airport. Within hours Gen Musharraf had taken over the country.

Manzoor Ahmad, who was approach radar controller on that October night, said he was ordered to tell the plane's pilot he had no permission to land inside Pakistan.

The pilot said he had 40minutes of fuel left and was carrying 198 passengers including the army chief. The plane's flight plan provided for a landing at nearby Nawabshah airport in an emergency.

Later Ahmad said he heard an army officer, who he identified as Major General Iftikhar Ali Khan, telling the pilot he could now land at Karachi.