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Musharraf allowed plane to land after Army takeover, SC told
Friday, June 12, 2009
By Sohail Khan
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) was informed on Thursday that Gen (R) Pervez Musharraf allowed the plane to land only after confirming that his loyal General Iftikhar had taken over control of the Karachi airport.
“No statement from any witnesses proves that Nawaz Sharif, as prime minister, gave orders to gain control of the airport or shut down the runway,” Khwaja Haris, the counsel for Nawaz Sharif, told a five member larger bench of the apex court, hearing an appeal filed by PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif against his conviction in the plane hijacking conspiracy case.
The bench is headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani while Nasirul Mulk, Justice Mohammad Moosa K Leghari, Justice Sheikh Hakim Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani are other members of the bench.
Khwaja Haris submitted that the army was present at the airport prior to October 12, 1999, and according to the plane Captain, Sarwat Hussain, General Pervez Musharraf came into the cockpit of the plane and directed him not to land the plane until the airport comes under the army control.
He further submitted that no statement from any witnesses proves that Nawaz Sharif gave any orders to gain the control of the airport or shut down the runway. The counsel read out the statement of the plane captain, and according to the captain he was talking to the Control Tower when he heard another voice saying that the airport had been taken over.
Khwaja Haris said that Pervez Musharraf spoke to General Iftikhar, who gave Musharraf whole information about taking the control of the airport. “The plane landed at 7.48 pm at the Karachi airport, not on the direction of the prime minister, but someone else was giving direction to the pilot,” Haris added.
He further contended that General Iftikhar told Musharraf: “You are retired, and we have taken over control of Karachi airport and you can land.” General Iftikhar was in contact with the Air Traffic Control and the captain as well while Nawaz Sharif was not in any contact with these people.
He said Pervez Musharraf, before the aircraft landing, wanted to ensure that everything was under the army control. Army officers were present at the airport prior to the landing of the plane, he added.
The learned counsel submitted that the army had captured the PM House and Karachi airport at 6.45 pm on October 12, 1999; after this, someone else, not the premier, was giving the directions.
Earlier, the court demanded a copy of the Civil Aviation manual regarding the flight operation on October 12, 1999, which was submitted to the court later. During the hearing, the court dismissed a petition, filed by Nawaz’s rivals. The court adjourned the hearing till today (Friday) wherein Khawaja Haris would continue his arguments.
Musharraf allowed plane to land after Army takeover, SC told
He's ditched the country at the last minute just t to live in pardise.
No wonder.
Friday, June 12, 2009
By Sohail Khan
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) was informed on Thursday that Gen (R) Pervez Musharraf allowed the plane to land only after confirming that his loyal General Iftikhar had taken over control of the Karachi airport.
“No statement from any witnesses proves that Nawaz Sharif, as prime minister, gave orders to gain control of the airport or shut down the runway,” Khwaja Haris, the counsel for Nawaz Sharif, told a five member larger bench of the apex court, hearing an appeal filed by PML-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif against his conviction in the plane hijacking conspiracy case.
The bench is headed by Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani while Nasirul Mulk, Justice Mohammad Moosa K Leghari, Justice Sheikh Hakim Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani are other members of the bench.
Khwaja Haris submitted that the army was present at the airport prior to October 12, 1999, and according to the plane Captain, Sarwat Hussain, General Pervez Musharraf came into the cockpit of the plane and directed him not to land the plane until the airport comes under the army control.
He further submitted that no statement from any witnesses proves that Nawaz Sharif gave any orders to gain the control of the airport or shut down the runway. The counsel read out the statement of the plane captain, and according to the captain he was talking to the Control Tower when he heard another voice saying that the airport had been taken over.
Khwaja Haris said that Pervez Musharraf spoke to General Iftikhar, who gave Musharraf whole information about taking the control of the airport. “The plane landed at 7.48 pm at the Karachi airport, not on the direction of the prime minister, but someone else was giving direction to the pilot,” Haris added.
He further contended that General Iftikhar told Musharraf: “You are retired, and we have taken over control of Karachi airport and you can land.” General Iftikhar was in contact with the Air Traffic Control and the captain as well while Nawaz Sharif was not in any contact with these people.
He said Pervez Musharraf, before the aircraft landing, wanted to ensure that everything was under the army control. Army officers were present at the airport prior to the landing of the plane, he added.
The learned counsel submitted that the army had captured the PM House and Karachi airport at 6.45 pm on October 12, 1999; after this, someone else, not the premier, was giving the directions.
Earlier, the court demanded a copy of the Civil Aviation manual regarding the flight operation on October 12, 1999, which was submitted to the court later. During the hearing, the court dismissed a petition, filed by Nawaz’s rivals. The court adjourned the hearing till today (Friday) wherein Khawaja Haris would continue his arguments.
Musharraf allowed plane to land after Army takeover, SC told
He's ditched the country at the last minute just t to live in pardise.
No wonder.
