20000302

Nawaz, Shahbaz

express full faith

in court

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Main accused in the October 12 plane conspiracy case, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif, said on Wednesday that they had full faith and trust in the Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) but their lawyers had withdrawn from proceedings in protest over the curb placed by the trial court on media reporting of the statements of the accused.

When the proceedings of the case began on Wednesday morning defence counsel of Mian Nawaz Sharif, Mian Shahbaz Sharif, Saifur Rehman and Khaqan Abbasi were not present in the court. However, advocate Munawwar Malik representing Saeed Mehdi, advocate Munawwar Ahmed Malik representing Rana Maqbool Ahmed, and advocates Haleem Pirzada and Aftab Farrukh representing Syed Ghous Ali Shah were present in the court.

It was for the first time Judge Rehmat Hussain Jeffrey asked Nawaz Sharif to come to the podium. Reading out from a written statement Nawaz Sharif said that he had confidence in the court. His defence counsels had withdrawn from the proceedings as the court had placed restriction on the coverage of the statements of the accused.

He said it was only through press he had come to know that his lawyers had withdrawn themselves from pleading our case anymore. He said he would like to consult his lawyers to find out whether they would continue to fight the case or he (Nawaz) had to find out new team of advocates.

Nawaz Sharif asked for the adjournment of the case for a longer period, but the court did not accede to the request.

The court said normally in such cases in which major punishments were involved, log duration adjournment was not allowed, however, keeping in view the prevailing situation, he would adjourn the case till Monday, March 06, 2000.

Earlier, advocate Aftab Farrukh submitted that defence counsel have resigned from this case, therefore accused Nawaz Sharif and three others should be asked whether they will engage other lawyers or consult their advocates.

The court asked Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Saifur Rehman and Khaqan Abbasi about their counsels, Nawaz Sharif replied that it was not a simple case of rent or a suit, therefore he had to say something to the court.

He complained that prosecution had denied him and other accused their legal rights. "We were never allowed to sit along with our lawyers and were never allowed to exchange our notes. Despite orders of Justice Shabbir Ahmed Shah of the Sindh High Court we are not allowed to sit together, or consult our lawyers in jail", he added.

He said he had prepared important notes of statements to be submitted before the court, had been stolen from the jail.

Nawaz Sharif said Advocate General of Sindh Raja Qureshi had been using TV for tarnishing his image. He referred to a news item relating to purchase of helicopter in 1993 and showing his (Nawaz) involvement in the deal.

He said that he was being painted and presented as a terrorist before the world at a time when efforts are being made to declare Pakistan a terrorism-free country.

He said democratically-elected prime minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, is charged with terrorism, jail-breaking, plane hijacking, waging war against the state etc. The FIR is based on hearsay statement. I do not know whether fundamental rights still exist in the country or not.

The court interrupted Nawaz Sharif and asked him to confine his statement to the main issue of engaging defence counsel. The court asked him whether he will engage other counsel. Nawaz Sharif said his counsel withdrew from the hearing as they disliked orders of this court.

Judge Jeffrey said the orders of the court were very clear that the accused would submit written statements and later the court would record their oral statement in open court.

He said if the accused had no trust in him, he would recommend transfer of the case to another court. On which Nawaz Sharif said they had trust in the court but would want their statements be telecast on PTV.

Judge Jeffrey said that his defence counsel would have to file a proper application for orders according to law. He said without proper advocates he would not be able to proceed with the case. He advised him to consult his lawyers and let the court know by Saturday.

On the pointation of Nawaz Sharif that the jail authorities would not allow him to meet with his lawyers, the court said that the defence counsel had not informed the court about their decisions therefore they are your lawyers and can meet you in jail.