Sharif files appeal in Sindh HC

Sheikh, in his appeal, argued that "the learned trial judge (Rehmat Hussain Jaffri), while passing the impugned judgment, derogated from the well entrenched principles of safe administration of Justice". "The learned trial judge has also committed a grave error of law in selecting portions of depositions of witnesses in order to justify the conviction of the appellant, rather than reading the deposition of witnesses as a whole." He said that "the time honoured principle that the prosecution has to prove its case beyond any shadow of doubt has not been adhered to". Sheikh also noted that while Sharif was convicted, "the prosecution evidence has been disbelieved against six accused persons out of seven."

The 12-page appeal also challenged the forfeiture of Sharif’s property the imposing of a fine and an order to pay compensation of two million rupees (40,000 dollars) by the trial court judge. Sharif was sentenced to life imprisonment on April 6 for hijacking and terrorism while six co-accused, including his brother Shahbaz, were found not guilty. Sharif’s conviction stemmed from his attempts to prevent a passenger plane carrying Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf from landing in Karachi on the night of October 12, 1999. The plane carrying Musharraf, whom Sharif had sacked hours earlier, landed only after the Army took control of the airport.