Deposed Pakistani PM says rift with general led to coup

March 8, 2000
Web posted at: 6:47 p.m. HKT (1047 GMT)

A convoy of Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) and police van with deposed Pakistan Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif on board, (not identified which vehicle carries Sharif), drive through a street in Karachi following Sharif's trial at Anti-Terrorist Court, March 1

From staff and wire reports

KARACHI, Pakistan -- Ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, testifying for the first time at his hijacking and attempted murder trial, said Wednesday that a rift with army Gen. Pervez Musharraf over Kashmir led to the overthrow of his government.

Sharif, also charged with terrorism and kidnapping, told the Anti-Terrorism Court that Musharraf manufactured the charges "because he bore a grudge against me." The hijacking charge carries the death penalty.

"I'm innocent and have been falsely implicated," Sharif said. He denied that he had refused the plane carrying Musharraf the right to land at Karachi airport on October 12. "No sir, that is incorrect."

The charges stem from an October 12 incident in which prosecutors say Sharif tried to keep the plane carrying Musharraf from landing. The plane landed later that day with about seven minutes of fuel, after the army had taken control of the government.

RESOURCES TIME: Interview with Nawaz Sharif     MESSAGE BOARD Sharif on trial

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.

Sharif told the court that the squabble with Musharraf began during last summer's fighting in Kargil, in the disputed Kashmir region. There were worries at the time that the dispute would erupt into a war between Pakistan and India.

India had accused Pakistani soldiers of disguising themselves as Muslim militants, of crossing into its territory in Kashmir and of taking control of Indian military posts. Pakistan denied the charge, saying Muslim guerrillas had captured the Indian posts.

Sharif accused Musharraf of creating dissension as a result of the pull back.

"(Musharraf) tried to create misgivings," Sharif said. "I saved the country from a grave crisis, but unfortunately could not save myself."

Sharif's testimony lasted 110 minutes, and was monitored by Judge Rehmetullah Hussein Jaffri to ensure state secrets were not revealed. Prosecutors had previously expressed concern Sharif could reveal state secrets during his statement.

"I will not elaborate anymore on (Kargil) because it carries some sensitive matters related to the security of the country," said Sharif. "I am a patriotic man. I know my responsibility."

Sharif also accused the authorities of coercing witnesses to give testimony against him. During the prosecution's case, successive witnesses recounted how Sharif and his close colleagues had issued orders to divert Musharraf's flight to a Middle Eastern country.

Correspondent John Raedler and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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