Security strengthened around Pak. court

KARACHI, APRIL 2. The Pakistan authorities have stepped up security for the judge of an anti-terrorism court who will announce his verdict in a case against the ousted Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif on Thursday, police and Intelligence officials said today.

``We have provided extra security to the judge Mr. Rehmat Hussain Jaffri as a preventive measure,'' a senior Intelligence official said. ``Usually the security is intensified for the judges as the day of the verdict comes closer and one can imagine how high profile this case is,'' he added.

The former Prime Minister, detained here with his brother, Mr. Shahbaz Sharif, and five other senior officials since his ouster in a coup last year, is facing charges of hijacking, kidnapping, attempted murder and terrorism.

Mr. Jaffri said last week that he would announce the judgement on April 6. The prosecution has demanded death penalty for Mr. Sharif and the other accused in the case. Police commandos have been deployed outside the judge's residence to keep a ``round-the-clock'' vigil, while a team of guards in police vans escorts him when he leaves his home, witnesses said.

Officials said hundreds of police and paramilitary troops would be positioned in and around the city's anti- terrorism court building on April 6.

Police commandos and troops would also be posted along the road between the Landhi jail on the outskirts of Karachi and the court building.

Armed policemen would be deployed at key Government installations and sensitive neighbourhoods of this southern port city. ``We have taken adequate security measures to avoid any disturbances,'' city police chief, Mr. Javed Iqbal said.

An administration official said the authorities had made a ``fool-proof'' plan and ``it will not be possible for anyone to breach the security.''

The Government has already imposed a ban on public rallies and meetings. The case relates to the night of October 12 when Mr. Sharif sacked General Pervez Musharraf as army chief and appointed another General in his place.

The prosecution alleges that Mr. Sharif tried to prevent the landing in Pakistan of a commercial airliner carrying Gen. Musharraf and 198 other passengers from Sri Lanka on the day of the coup. The plane landed after the army took over Karachi airport and Gen. Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup. Mr. Sharif, claiming he is innocent, has termed the story as ``concocted.''

The case took an ugly turn on March 10 when Mr. Sharif's lawyer, Iqbal Radh, was gunned down by three unidentified assailants at his office in Karachi.

- AFP

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