ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Friday acquitted former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a case of hijacking involving Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s plane.
The army ousted Sharif’s government in a bloodless coup in October 1999, on the day Sharif removed Musharraf from his post as army chief and refused to allow the general’s plane to land at Karachi Airport while returning from Colombo. The army revolted. After assuming power, the military government charged Sharif with ordering the hijacking of Musharraf’s plane. Sharif argued his actions only aimed to avert a coup that was already under way.
Sharif was sentenced to life imprisonment by a special court in Karachi for his alleged involvement in “the hijacking of the flight.” He was later exiled under a deal with Musharraf. He returned home in 2007 and filed an appeal against his conviction in the case. A five-member bench of the top court, headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, on Friday set aside the conviction and sentence of the special court.
“The petitioner had neither used force nor ordered its use and undisputedly no deceitful means were used. Looking at the case from any angle, the charge of hijacking, attempt to hijack or terrorism does not stand established against the petitioner,” the verdict read.
The court said Sharif’s imprisonment on hijacking charges were politically motivated.
An earlier court decision gave Sharif clearance to contest elections, but the latest ruling appeared to wipe the slate clean, though the former prime minister still needs a constitutional amendment to allow him to hold the premiership more than twice.
While no election is scheduled before 2013, many political observers anticipate a power play by Sharif to bring down President Asif Ali Zardari, a pro-West leader who speaks out against the threat of religious militancy.
Zardari visited Sharif at his residence just outside Lahore and congratulated him.
— With input from agencies
