Contempt case against Sharief adjourned

Hundreds of policemen with shields and steel-tipped batons battled thousands of Nawaz Sharief's supporters outside the supreme court where the prime minister faced the most serious challenge yet to his leadership.

Sharief argued against a contempt charge brought against him for allegedly slandering the judiciary in comments he made several weeks ago at a media conference. The charge followed Sharief's public condemnation several weeks ago of Pakistan's Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah after the two men fought over appointments to the Supreme Court.

In the end, the chief justice won and Sharief appointed five new judges to the Supreme Court expanding the bench from 12 to 17. Sharief wanted only three additional judges appointed to the bench.

The chief justice today adjourned the case until tomorrow when he will review video tapes of the offending media meet.

If found guilty of contempt, Sharief could be removed from office. It is not clear whether that means his government would be dismissed.

Sharief sat in a jammed courtroom today as his lawyer read his statement, apologising to the Supreme Court if he offended the judiciary. But he added it was his job as prime minister to keep the country informed.

''I have the greatest regard and respect for the judiciary and parliament which has the power to legislate,'' Sharief said in his Urdu statement.

''At the media conference, I gave a very cautious statement but, if any of my remarks caused offence to the chief justice or any of the judges, I am sorry for that.''

''It was not clear whether his apology would be enough to get him off the charges.

Outside the grand white marble courthouse, scores of Sharief supporters chanted slogans vowing, ''Sharief will win. God is with him.''

Across the road, rival Benazir Bhutto's supporters screamed, ''Sharief must go.''

Hundreds of police thrust themselves between Sharief and the crowd as his car approached the giant black steel courthouse gates.

Seated outside the courthouse several women supporters of Sharief, their heads covered in the traditional scarf, read versus from the Islamic holy book Quran invoking divine assistance.

Alongwith Sharief several senior politicians and newspaper editors, who carried the prime minister's remarks, will also answer the contempt charges.

EARLIER REPORTS:
Contempt notices for Nawaz, nine others

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