Sharif's lawyers quit case

Sharif's lawyers quit case
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

LAHORE, FEB 27: Two lawyers representing deposed Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Sunday pulled out of the case, criticising a court order which may impose a reporting ban on their client's evidence.

Ajaz Batalvi and Khwaja Sultan said they could no longer represent their client. "We are withdrawing from the case," they said in a statement at a news conference here. "This is ridiculous. We cannot contest the case when such measures are taken by the court hearing a historic case," they said.

Sharif and six officials have been charged with hijacking, abduction, attempted murder and terrorism in a case based on the night of the military coup on October 12. All the accused have pleaded not guilty and face the death penalty if convicted.

Prosecutors have asked the Anti-terrorist Court hearing the case to hold sessions in private when Sharif and his co-accused give evidence, fearing a breach of national security. On Friday Judge Rehmat Hussain Jafri ruled Sharif could give evidence in public but the judge himself would then decide what could be reported in the press.