Pak. S.C. to hear Benazir plea today

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, FEB. 25. The Supreme Court of Pakistan will hear tomorrow a case filed by the Chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and former Prime Minister, Mrs. Benazir Bhutto, challenging her conviction in a corruption case by a lower court.

The hearing has assumed significance in view of the threatening noises by Ms. Bhutto to return home to launch an agitation against the military government.

Last week, a London-based newspaper published damning evidence, in the form of tape recorded conversation between the then Law Minister and the judge who indicted Mrs. Bhutto, in support of its contention that the verdict against the former Prime Minister had been fixed.

The paper also published a letter by a senior Pakistani intelligence agency officer to the President, Mr. Rafiq Tarar, about the operation. The officer claimed he involvement in tapping the phone of the judge concerned. The judge concerned vehemently denied the charge, but strangely did not challenge the tape-recorded version published in the daily. Ms. Bhutto's lawyers have urged the Supreme Court to take note of the revelations made by the London newspaper.

For Mrs. Bhutto, who has been exploring the option of returning here, the tapes episode is a god-sent opportunity, and she is determined to make full use of it.

Sharif's claim

Another former Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, who was packed off to Saudi Arabia in December last year, has also been ``roaring'' against the military government from Madina.

Much to the embarrassment of the Musharraf Government, a Pakistani daily not only managed to talk to Mr. Sharif but succeeded in extracting some damning statements against the military government.

The interview flies in the face of the military's claim that Mr. Sharif had been exiled to Saudi Arabia on a clear understanding that he would not allowed to even talk about politics leave alone take part in it.

In his interview, Mr. Sharif accused the military government of trying break his party, Pakistan Muslim League, and warned that the ``artificial efforts'' to split the PML would fail. ``Efforts are being made to create a new Convention League. People are with us and would never take side with the Convention Leaguers''.

Predicting an early end to a ``difficult period'', Mr. Sharif said Pakistanis, who call on him everyday, had been asking about the country's future. ``I tell them to put this question to those who have led the country to the present predicament'', he said in a reference to the Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

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Section  : International
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