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Chargesheet against Sharief delayed

The laying of formal charges against ousted Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharief, his brother and five others was delayed for one week today by a prosecution request.

An anti-terrorism court judge agreed with a prosecution request to delay until December 4 the laying of the charges, expected to be criminal conspiracy, hijacking, kidnapping and attempted murder.

The prosecution told the court the delay was needed because Sharief's brother and two other former members of his government had been added to the list of accused on Thursday.

Judge Rehmat Hussain Jafri also ruled that Shahbaz Sharief, former chief minister of Punjab province, Saifur Rehman, the anti-corruption tsar in Nawaz Sharief's government, and Sharief's former principal secretary Saeed Mehdi be remanded to police custody for questioning until Tuesday.

The allegations stem from an alleged attempt on October 12 to divert a plane bringing army chief General Pervez Musharraf to Karachi from Sri Lanka.

Hours later, General Musharraf overthrew Sharief. Nawaz Sharief, who was arrested with three other former aides or government officials last week, has said he is innocent and called for an open and fair trial. A conviction for hijacking could bring a death penalty.

Reuters

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