Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LAHORE129
2009-07-06 06:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Lahore
Cable title:
NAWAZ SHARIF ACQUITTED IN HELICOPTER CASE
how-toVZCZCXRO6398 RR RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHLH #0129 1870657 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 060657Z JUL 09 FM AMCONSUL LAHORE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4085 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 4799 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0822 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0443 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 2097 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 1778 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 5237
UNCLAS LAHORE 000129
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PK
SUBJECT: NAWAZ SHARIF ACQUITTED IN HELICOPTER CASE
UNCLAS LAHORE 000129
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PK
SUBJECT: NAWAZ SHARIF ACQUITTED IN HELICOPTER CASE
1. (SBU) Summary: A two-member Rawalpindi branch of the Lahore
High Court (LHC) acquitted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
leader Nawaz Sharif of the alleged illegal purchase of a
helicopter on June 26. The original sentence was handed down in
2000, immediately before Sharif was sent into exile. Sharif
filed the appeal earlier this year, after the reinstatement of
the Chief Justice. End summary.
2. (SBU) The LHC declared the sentence null and void based on
lack of evidence, gross irregularities in the court proceedings
and, "glaring lapses on the part of the prosecution," according
to press. In July of 2000, the National Accountability Board
(NAB) court convicted Sharif for failure to disclose income and
pay taxes on the purchase of helicopter. The NAB court handed
Sharif a 14-year prison sentence, a Rs 50 million fine and, he
was disqualified from contesting elections for 21 years.
Shortly after the verdict, Sharif was exiled to Saudi Arabia and
did not file an appeal until April of 2009.
3. (SBU) In his arguments, Sharif's lawyer and former Attorney
General of Punjab Khawaja Harris told the court that Sharif did
not purchase the Russian-made MI-8 helicopter, but rented the
helicopter for use during his election campaign in 1993. PML-N,
he argued before the court, covered the cost of the helicopter,
not Sharif. In his arguments, Harris said Sheikh Abdul Rehman
Al-Sani of Qatar owned the helicopter and was not summoned to
appear before the NAB court during the initial proceedings.
According to press, Harris stated there was insufficient
evidence to prove Sharif had purchased the helicopter. As
Sharif was forced into exile a few days after the verdict,
Harris said, the court did not provide adequate time for an
appeal.
4. (SBU) The prosecution argued Sharif willingly delayed
filing the petition for political gains, arguing he should have
filed the appeal immediately upon return from exile in 2007.
Special Public Prosecutor from the NAB Abdul Basir Qureshi
disputed Sharif's argument that he did not trust the courts,
noting that Sharif had filed an appeal to return from exile and
could have done the same in this case. In response, Sharif's
counsel told the court that his client took oath from his party
workers to strive for independence of the judiciary, so he could
not file an appeal before the court even after he returned to
the country.
5. (SBU) Comment: The NAB can file an appeal to the Supreme
Court, but there have not been any reports that an appeal will
be filed. Post will continue to watch the case and report any
further developments. End Comment.
HUNT
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PK
SUBJECT: NAWAZ SHARIF ACQUITTED IN HELICOPTER CASE
1. (SBU) Summary: A two-member Rawalpindi branch of the Lahore
High Court (LHC) acquitted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
leader Nawaz Sharif of the alleged illegal purchase of a
helicopter on June 26. The original sentence was handed down in
2000, immediately before Sharif was sent into exile. Sharif
filed the appeal earlier this year, after the reinstatement of
the Chief Justice. End summary.
2. (SBU) The LHC declared the sentence null and void based on
lack of evidence, gross irregularities in the court proceedings
and, "glaring lapses on the part of the prosecution," according
to press. In July of 2000, the National Accountability Board
(NAB) court convicted Sharif for failure to disclose income and
pay taxes on the purchase of helicopter. The NAB court handed
Sharif a 14-year prison sentence, a Rs 50 million fine and, he
was disqualified from contesting elections for 21 years.
Shortly after the verdict, Sharif was exiled to Saudi Arabia and
did not file an appeal until April of 2009.
3. (SBU) In his arguments, Sharif's lawyer and former Attorney
General of Punjab Khawaja Harris told the court that Sharif did
not purchase the Russian-made MI-8 helicopter, but rented the
helicopter for use during his election campaign in 1993. PML-N,
he argued before the court, covered the cost of the helicopter,
not Sharif. In his arguments, Harris said Sheikh Abdul Rehman
Al-Sani of Qatar owned the helicopter and was not summoned to
appear before the NAB court during the initial proceedings.
According to press, Harris stated there was insufficient
evidence to prove Sharif had purchased the helicopter. As
Sharif was forced into exile a few days after the verdict,
Harris said, the court did not provide adequate time for an
appeal.
4. (SBU) The prosecution argued Sharif willingly delayed
filing the petition for political gains, arguing he should have
filed the appeal immediately upon return from exile in 2007.
Special Public Prosecutor from the NAB Abdul Basir Qureshi
disputed Sharif's argument that he did not trust the courts,
noting that Sharif had filed an appeal to return from exile and
could have done the same in this case. In response, Sharif's
counsel told the court that his client took oath from his party
workers to strive for independence of the judiciary, so he could
not file an appeal before the court even after he returned to
the country.
5. (SBU) Comment: The NAB can file an appeal to the Supreme
Court, but there have not been any reports that an appeal will
be filed. Post will continue to watch the case and report any
further developments. End Comment.
HUNT