Pakistan Ex-Premier Accused of Treason
Nearly one month after throwing out the civilian government, Pakistan’s military rulers today accused deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and eight 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 aircraft carrying army chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf. The general responded that day by ousting Sharif in a bloodless coup.
Under Pakistani law, a complaint was lodged with the police. A police inquiry will now be launched and formal charges made.
Sharif, in military custody since his overthrow, was also accused of assembling people with the purpose to kill and of physical endangerment.
Among those accused in the complaint are Sharif’s former advisor Ghaus Ali Shah; the former director of Pakistan’s national airline, Shahid Haqqan Abbasi; former Police Inspector Rana Maqbool; and the former director general of civil aviation, Aminuddin Chaudhry.
When the aircraft carrying Musharraf landed, he has said, less than 10 minutes of fuel remained. He has accused Sharif of attempting to kill him and of endangering the more than 200 passengers and crew.
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