LOC21:37
18:37 GMT
DEPOSED PREMIER ON TRIAL ON HIJACKING CHARGES
KARACHI, JAN 26 (KUNA) -- THE TRIAL OF DEPOSED PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF
BEGAN ON WEDNESDAY WITH A CO-ACCUSED, FORMER DIRECTOR GENERAL OF CIVIL
AUTHORITY, AMINULLAH CHAUDHRY TAKING THE WITNESS STAND TO SAY HE WAS ORDERED
TO DIVERT A PASSENGER PLANE WITH THE ARMY CHIEF ABOARD TO A GULF NATION.
SHARIF AND SIX OTHERS ARE CHARGED WITH HIJACKING, TERRORISM, ATTEMPTED
MURDER AND KIDNAPPING IN CONNECTION WITH AN INCIDENT ON OCTOBER 12, THE DAY
THE MILITARY STAGED A COUP, IN WHICH A PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES PLANE
RETURNING GEN. PERVEZ MUSHARRAF TO PAKISTAN WAS REFUSED PERMISSION TO LAND IN
KARACHI.
SHARIF AND HIS CO-ACCUSED PLEADED NOT GUILTY. THREE OF THE FOUR CHARGES
CARRY EITHER THE DEATH PENALTY OR LIFE IN PRISON.
THE MILITARY SAID SHARIF TRIED TO KILL THE ARMY CHIEF AND IN THE PROCESS
ENDANGERED THE LIVES OF ALL 198 PASSENGERS AND CREW ABOARD THE AIRCRAFT.
WHEN THE AIRCRAFT WAS EVENTUALLY ALLOWED TO LAND THERE WAS APPARENTLY ONLY
SEVEN MINUTES OF FUEL REMAINING.
AMINUDDIN CHAUDHRY, THE FORMER DIRECTOR GENERAL OF PAKISTAN'S CIVIL
AVIATION AUTHORITY, AND THE PROSECUTION'S KEY WITNESS, WAS THE FIRST TO
TESTIFY WEDNESDAY. CHAUDHRY, WHO HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN CHARGED ALONG WITH
SHARIF, WAS GRANTED IMMUNITY FOR HIS TESTIMONY. (MORE)
SA.MM/YI
KUNA 262137 Jan 00NNNN