Defense lawyers boycott Pakistan's Sharif trial

March 13, 2000
Web posted at: 12:54 p.m. HKT (0454 GMT)

KARACHI. Pakistan (CNN) -- The defense team in the trial of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif boycotted the court hearing Monday forcing the judge to delay proceedings for a day.

The lawyers' refusal to appear follows the murder of Sharif attorney Iqbal Raad, and two other people, in Raad's Karachi office last Friday.

There have been no arrests as police continue to pursue what witnesses say were three gunmen and an accomplice.

ALSO Pakistani police accuse Sharif's wife, party loyalists of terrorism     RESOURCES TIME: Interview with Nawaz Sharif     MESSAGE BOARD Sharif on trial

CNN Correspondent John Raedler said the judge ordered the trial to resume Tuesday for what was scheduled to be the closing arguments of both sides.

Sharif was toppled in a military coup led by Gen. Pervez Musharraf, whose government is accusing Sharif of hijacking, attempted murder, kidnapping and terrorism.

Raad was the first lawyer to defend Sharif after the October 12, 1999, incident in which prosecutors say the former prime minister tried to prevent the landing of a plane carrying Musharraf to the Karachi airport.

Raedler said Sharif mourned the death of Raad in a statement read to the court Monday.

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The Times of India
The Government of Pakistan
Pakistan Armed Forces
Pakistan News Service
CIA World Factbook -- Pakistan

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