Release of 6 Accused in Pakistan Hijacking Case OrderedPakistan's Anti-Terrorism Court No. One (ATC-1) has ordered the release of six accused in October 12 plane hijacking case if they are not wanted in any other custody case."The remaining accused, presently in the custody, should be released forthwith, if they are not required in any other custody case," Judge Rehmat Hussain Jafferi said Thursday in his order, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP). Among the six men are former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's brother and former Chief Minister of Punjab province Shahbaz Sharif, Nawaz's principal secretary Saeed Mehdi,former Chairman of Accountability Bureau Saifur Rehman, Nawaz's advisor on Sindh affairs Ghaus Shah, former Chairman of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Shahid Abbasi and former Inspector General of Sindh police Maqbool Ahmed. They were acquitted Thursday while Nawaz Sharif was awarded life imprisonment on charges of plane hijacking and terrorism. The seven people were accused of refusing the landing of a PIA plane in Karachi on October 12 last year, thus endangering lives of some 200 passengers on board, including army chief General Pervez Musharraf. The court also released the approver and former Director General of Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority Aminullah Chaudhry and directed jail authorities to release him, if he is not required in any other case. |
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