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I was removed at gunpoint: Sharief

Pakistan's deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharief today told the Supreme Court that he was removed by the army at gunpoint and the military regime was keeping him in a ''cage-like cell''.

Sharief made the statement when his lawyer Khalid Anwer complained to the court of ''disgraceful and humiliating treatment'' of his client by the authorities and the court asked him where he was being kept.

''I am in Landhi jail (in Karachi) -- a sub-jail within the jail, surrounded by high walls -- in a cage-like cell,'' the former premier said.

Lawyer Khalid Anwer said it was insulting for the former prime minister to be kept in poor conditions and to be moved in an armoured personnel carrier for his appearances in courts.

Attorney General of Pakistan Aziz A Munshi said the armoured carrier was used for the ex-premier's security.

''We do not want to take any chances in view of the feelings of the people,'' he said. After hearing the two lawyers, the court fixed the next hearing for January 12 and ordered that the former premier should get all the facilities he was entitled to, including meetings with his family and party members.

Sharief was, however, asked not to talk to the media. But as he was coming out, a journalist asked if he was getting a fair trial. ''I want a fair trial,'' he replied.

Sharief was brought from Karachi to the Supreme Court to appear in a case relating to the attack by the members of his Pakistan Muslim League on the court in November 1997, allegedly to prevent then chief justice Sajjad Ali Shah to deliver a judgement against Sharief.

Shah, and then president Farooq Leghari, were forced out by the then ruling party in the tussle. Three judges of the Supreme Court who investigated the attack had closed the case, citing lack of evidence although hidden cameras installed in the court building had recorded the attack.

The court is reviewing the case on a petition from a freelance journalist.

Sharief's party has filed a petition against the military takeover of October 12 and the Supreme Court will begin hearing it on January 31.

UNI

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