The Washington Post
11 November 1999.
Pakistan's New Rulers Accuse
Sharif Of Treason
Death Sentence PossibleIn Dispute Over Airplane
By Kathy Gannon
Associated Press
Thursday, November 11, 1999; Page A35
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 11 (Thursday)Nearly one month
after throwing out the civilian government, Pakistan's new
military rulers today
accused deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif and seven others of
treason and kidnapping--charges that carry the death penalty.
A formal complaint was filed in connection with
an incident Oct. 12 in which Sharif refused landing rights to a
passenger plane carrying army chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf, police
officials said. The dispute happened as Sharif's unpopular
government was being thrown out in a bloodless
coup led by Musharraf.
Pursuant to Pakistani law, a complaint was lodged with the police.
A police inquiry will now be launched and formal charges made.
Sharif, who has been in military custody at an undisclosed
location since he was overthrown, was also accused of assembling
people with the purpose to kill, and physically endangering
people, both of which carry
prison terms.
Among those accused in the complaint are Sharif's former adviser
Ghaus Ali Shah; former director of Pakistan's national airline
Shahid Haqqan Abbasi; former police inspector Rana Maqbool; and
Aminuddin Chaudhry,
former director general of Pakistan Civil Aviation.
In Washington, the Clinton administration urged Musharraf's
government to protect the legal rights of the accused.
"We have continued to raise our concerns with Pakistani
authorities about former prime minister Sharif's well-being and
our concern he be accorded due process," said deputy State
Department spokesman James B.
Foley said.
Foley cautioned that the U.S. government did not have
confirmation of the report on the accusations.
The complaint against Sharif stems from the high-altitude drama
that occurred over Karachi International Airport as the army
fanned out on the ground and took control. Shortly before the
incident, Sharif had fired Musharraf and tried to install a
junior general and close ally as the new military chief.
The Pakistan International Airlines flight returning Musharraf to
Pakistan from Sri Lanka was refused landing rights.
Musharraf said in an earlier interview that the pilot circled the
airport awaiting instructions as fuel was running out. The
aircraft was rerouted to the southern city of Nawabshah.
While the aircraft was en route, the army gained full control of
the country, including the Karachi airport, and ordered the
aircraft to land. When the aircraft landed at Karachi, Musharraf
said, less than 10
minutes worth of fuel remained.
Musharraf accused Sharif at the time of trying to kill him and
endangering the lives of more than 200 passengers and crew on
board.