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Two PWs depose before ATC Plane hijacking conspiracy hatched at PM House

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Prosecution witness Commander Zahid Mehmood, director, prime minister's protocol, on Wednesday deposed before the Anti Terrorism Court Judge, Rehmat Husain Jafferi, that the conspiracy against PIA flight No. PK- 805, carrying the Chief of Army Staff Gen. Pervez Musharraf and 197 other passengers was hatched at the Prime Minister House.

He named deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, former chief minister of the Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, former chief Ehtesab Bureau, Saifur Rehman, former PIA chairman, Khaqan Abbasi, and former principal secretary to prime minister Saeed Mehdi as the persons involved in the October 12 plane conspiracy case.

Mehmood said instructions were issued by Nawaz Sharif to divert the plane to Muscat or Nawabshah for refuelling. These instructions were to be carried out by PIA chief Khaqan Abassi.

The second prosecution witness, Air Traffic Control Officer Manzoor Ahmed, deposed before the court that on the orders of the secretary to the director general of Civil Aviation, Wing Commander Farooq, the airport was closed for all flights, on October 12 evening.

He said at about 6:45 p.m. Anwarul Huq, acting facility operations officer, informed him that he had told the aircraft that Nawabshah airfield was also closed.

Manzoor Ahmed said at about 6:53 p.m. he was instructed by Yousuf Abbas, chief operation officer, to tell PK-805 that it was not allowed to land anywhere and it should leave Pakistan for any other destination outside the country. The flight should do so on its own risk immediately.

All the accused including Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Syed Ghous Ali Shah, Khaqan Abbasi, Saifur Rehman, Saeed Mehdi, and former inspector general of Sindh police, Rana Maqbool Ahmed were present in the court. Proceedings will resume on Thursday.

APP adds:

Commander Zahid Mehmood, informed the court about the series of events of October 12, 1999. In the television lounge in the residential area of the Prime Minister House, Nawaz Sharif was in the company of Saif-ur-Rehman, Shahbaz Sharif, Saeed Mehdi and they were talking about PK-805.

In the course of their discussion Saeed Mehdi was drafting the orders and having them typed and faxed to the President House about the retirement of General Pervez Musharraf and the promotion of Lt. General Ziauddin as the chief of the army staff, also promoting him to the rank of General.

The witness also informed the court that the accused persons were conspiring for the diversion of aircraft carrying General Pervez Musharraf anywhere out of Pakistan at the risk of lives of pessengers on board flight PK 805.

Zahid Mehmood said that instructions were issued by Nawaz Sharif to take the aircraft to Muscat or alternatively to Nawabshah for refuelling and such instructions were to be implemented by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Additionally, Shahbaz Sharif subscribed to the plan of retirement of General Pervez Musharraf and appointment of Lt. General Ziauddin and division and closure of designated and alternative airports.

The witness also informed the court that the suggestion mooted by Saif-ur-Rehman to divert the plane to Peshawer was rejected in the meeting due to shortage of fuel and also on the ground that the distance of Muscat and Peshawar was almost the same.

Witness also informed the court that on October 12, 1999, Nawaz Sharif was standing in the lawn of the prime minister house with Hussain Nawaz and he called to find out the arrival time of the flight coming from Male.

Zahid Mehmood said he conveyed the time on which Nawaz Sharif asked the witness to contact PIA chairman and asked him to divert the flight to Muscat.

The PIA chairman rang up within a few minutes and confirmed that he had received the message. Witness informed the court that he subsequently informed Nawaz Sharif. After a few minutes the PIA chairman again rang up to say that the aircraft did not have enough fuel for Muscat and could go to Nawabshah only.

The witness also deposed that Lt. General Ziauddin was present with the then prime minister for an un-scheduled meeting.

Someone told the witness that the prime minister was going to see ISI, director general who had arrived.

Commander Zahid Mehmood said neither he had seen the DG ISI coming nor he knew about this meeting earlier. At about 5.30 pm the witness was at the Military Secretary's office. At about 5:45 pm he saw Brig. Javed getting into a police car along with some gunmen. Brig. Javed told the witness that he was going to PTV centre, Islamabad and he returned from PTV at about 6:20 pm. Brig. Javed was in a hurry and wanted to inform the prime minister about his visit to the PTV centre.

Saif-ur-Rehman and Shahbaz Sharif were also present, the witness deposed. The witness testified that Saif-ur-Rehman remarked, "why not take the aircraft to Peshawar."

At 6:30 pm the Military Secretary asked the witness to go to the main gate of the Prime Minister House and find out the position there. Witness informed the prime minister that 12-15 armymen were there.