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Sharief in court to record statement

Pakistan's ousted premier Nawaz Sharief appeared in court today amid tight security to record a statement in a case of criminal conspiracy and hijacking, witnesses said.

Sharief was brought under high security to the anti-terrorism court in Malir district of Karachi along with four others, they said. The five were accused last week of criminal conspiracy, hijacking -- which can carry the death penalty -- kidnapping and attempted murder.

It was not clear what Sharief's statement contained.

Armoured personnel carriers and police vehicles escorted vans carrying the five accused and the police prevented journalists coming close to the road leading to the court.

Sharief, who is yet to be formally charged, made his first public appearance yesterday in another local court where he was formally handed over to the police for questioning. He protested his innocence in remarks to a reporter.

He will appear before that court on November 22.

The other four are former Pakistan International Airlines chairman Shahid Khakan Abbasi, Sharief's former advisor Ghous Ali Shah, former Sindh provincial police chief Rana Maqbool and Aminullah Chaudhry, former director of the civil aviation authority.

The charges against Sharief are connected to an alleged attempt to divert a plane bringing army chief General Pervez Musharraf to Karachi from Sri Lanka last month. Hours later Musharraf overthrew Sharief.

Reuters

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