Sharif trial -- Defence challenges testimony of key complainant
REUTERS

KARACHI, FEB 10: The trial of ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was stopped on Thursday when the defence challenged the testimony of the military officer who first accused Sharif of hijacking and other charges.

The court will resume hearing the case on Friday with another prosecution witness while Judge Rehmat Hussain Jafri decides whether the testimony of Lieutenant Colonel Atiq-uz-Zaman Kiyani was admissible.

Kiyani began his testimony by saying, ``I came to know that the flight was being delayed.'' At that point Sharif's lawyer Khawaja Sultan interrupted and told the court the testimony was based on information from some other source. ``This statement is based on hearsay and the evidence is not admissible,'' Sultan said. Jafri said he would decide later whether Kiyani's testimony was admissible, and lawyers from both sides said outside the court that the matter had been deferred until next week.

In addition to the hijacking charge, which can carry a death penalty, Sharif, his brother Shahbaz andfive others face charges that include kidnapping, terrorism and attempted murder.

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