Deposed Pakistani PM's lawyers fear for lives, boycott trial

March 13, 2000
Web posted at: 3:33 p.m. HKT (0733 GMT)

In this story: Raad gunned down in own office Charges include kidnapping and terrorism RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

KARACHI, Pakistan (CNN) -- Defense lawyers, citing safety concerns following the murder of lead lawyer Iqbal Raad, are again boycotting ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's hijacking and attempted murder trial.

The trial has been adjourned until Tuesday.

Prosecutor Raja Qureshi told the Anti-Terrorism Court on Monday that Sharif's lawyers decided not to appear in court because they were concerned for their lives. He said the lawyers want the trial moved to either Lahore or Islamabad. Prosecutors were to begin closing arguments Monday.

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Sharif's lawyers said they would not return to court unless the trial is moved. Judge Rehmetullah Hussein Jaffri said he had not been formally informed of the lawyers' request, and adjourned the trial to allow Sharif and his co-defendants to consult with their lawyers by telephone.

"I think it will be proper that I should talk to our lawyers in order to know their minds," Sharif told the judge, adding he had not been informed of his lawyers' decision.

Raad was killed Friday when three masked men sprayed gunfire in his downtown Karachi office. A fourth man waited in an escape car. Two others -- a lawyer and judge's son and an office worker -- were also killed. Police said the gunmen carried an AK-47 assault rifle and two pistols. Nobody has been arrested.

"We're all in danger ... The government is responsible for this. The regime is responsible for this," one defense lawyer told CNN shortly after the killing.

Qureshi, advocate-general of Sindh province of which Karachi is the capital, said the prosecution was opposed to any change of venue, and added the government was prepared to provide the lawyers with security.

Sharif read a statement, which was barely audible, to the court, in which he called Raad a "sincere, selfless and devoted friend." Raad had also been the lawyer for Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League, which had challenged the legality of the October 12 coup in which the military overthrew Sharif.

The former prime minister tried to give the note to CNN Correspondent John Raedler following proceedings. However, a security officer ripped it out of Raedler's hand. The note was eventually returned to Raedler.

In addition to attempted murder and hijacking, which can carry the death penalty, Sharif and his co-defendants are charged with kidnapping and terrorism. The charges stem from an October 12 incident, which eventually led to the coup, in which prosecutors say Sharif tried to keep the plane carrying army Gen. Pervez Musharraf from landing at Karachi airport.

The plane landed later that day with about seven minutes of fuel, but only after the army had taken control of the government during a bloodless coup.

Also charged are Sharif's brother Shahbaz Sharif; Ghaus Ali Shah, a former adviser to Sharif on southern provincial Sindh affairs; Saifur Rehman, Pakistan's former anti-corruption czar; Saeed Mehdi, the deposed prime minister's former principal secretary, and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former chairman of Pakistan International Airlines.

Previously, Sharif's lawyers boycotted the trial after the judge ruled the Sharif could not make his statement in public court, rather would submit his statement in writing. Prosecutors had argued Sharif could reveal state secrets during his statement.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Correspondent John Raedler and Reuters contributed to this report.

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