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Journalism of Courage
KARACHI, APRIL 4: Pakistani authorities have warned members of the former ruling party against holding street protests when the verdict in the trial of deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is announced on Thursday.
"No one will be allowed to take the law into his own hands," said Muhammad Safdar, the Governor of Punjab, the country’s most populous province and Sharif’s power base. He said "iron hands" would deal with any violators.
The country’s military rulers have already banned public meetings and rallies.
Judge Rehmat Hussain Jaffri of Karachi’s anti-terrorism court, which tried 52-year old Sharif, his brother, and five senior officials on charges of hijacking, abduction, attempted murder and terrorism, is scheduled to announce his decision on Thursday.
The verdict coincides with the start of the Muslim holy month of Moharram which marks religious gatherings and processions by the minority Shiite Muslim community.
"We have taken strict security measures to avoid disturbances on April 6," Karachi’s police chief Iqbal Mehmood said.
Prosecution lawyers have demanded the death penalty while the defence has called for an acquittal. Former Army Chief Mirza Aslam Beg believes sentencing Sharif to death would have a "negative impact" on the country’s politics.
"Instead of the plane hijacking case, Sharif should be investigated for corruption and if involved be sentenced," Beg said.
