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Plane case: Nawaz's counsel seeks military inquiry records

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Defence counsel of the former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and six others who are facing trial in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in October 12 plane conspiracy case, asked the court to make available records of a military inquiry panel, which had questioned the witnesses and the accused.

The defence took the plea if the questioning of the accused and the witnesses was an inquiry then it was their legal right to demand the record.

Ejaz Batalvi, Nawaz's counsel, has moved an application asking for the record. The court adjourned the proceedings after receiving the application and listening to Batalvi, till Saturday when the judge would give his rulings.

Earlier, when Anti Terrorism Court Judge, Rehmat Husain Jafferi, began proceedings of the case on Friday morning, the former DIGP Karachi, Mohammed Akber Shaikh, told the court that he had heard the ex-adviser to the prime minister on Sindh affairs, Syed Ghous Ali Shah, asking the former IGP Sindh, Rana Maqbool Ahmed weather he (IGP) could take over the control of the Karachi Airport.

The witness said; 'the same query was repeated to me by the IGP".

He said; when I reached the Jinnah Terminal on the call of the IGP, on October 12, I saw army vehicles were lined up on both sides of the road and vehicles of the ex-adviser to the prime minister and the IGP were also there with their pilots and escorts outside the airport'.

The airport was crowded at the international departure but the domestic lounge was giving a deserted look, the witness added.

He said the SSP East was with him in compliance with of the orders of the IGP, who wanted all the SSPs to be present at the airport. However, the IGP did not disclose the reason for this detailment. He was in a hurry, he added.

He said it was through the staff of the escort that he came to know that the adviser and the IGP were inside the domestic lounge.

The witness said that he along with Bashir Memon went inside the domestic lounge, they were unarmed. No gunmen followed us, he added.

"It was protocol men who signaled me that the adviser and the IGP were inside the VIP lounge", he added.

The witness said that when he went inside he saw that the ex-adviser was sitting in the front row. Col. Tahir Kheli (Retd), political adviser to the former prime minister was standing beside him and the IGP was coming out of the wash-room.

He deposed "upon seeing me the adviser asked the IGP whether he could take over the airport. The IGP repeated the same to me'.

He said when he asked the reason for doing so from the IGP, he replied those were the orders from above.

The IGP said the plane carrying the chief of army staff, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, was arriving there and landing was to be refused to the plane.

He said; "The IGP said to me that the Civil Aviation Authority and the PIA had already made all arrangements and we were to provide them support".

The witness said he regretted compliance of the instructions.

"After my refusal the adviser and the IGP talked with each other in lower tone that I could not hear. Further I told the IGP that the army was already there and that they should not do that".

"Later, I saw them leaving the lounge at a fast pace," the witness added.

The witness said that he saw the adviser and the IGP going to the same vehicle and leaving the airport. "Later, I ordered my force to leave the airport if they had occupied it".

The witness said that he left the airport along with Bashir Memon. "While I was at I. I. Chindrigar Road , I received a call at about 8:25 p.m. from the former IGP on my mobile telephone, who wanted me to see him at his Bath Island residence".

"I reached his residence and saw the vehicle of the DIG, Farooq Ameen, outside the residence of the IGP". Farooq Ameen was entering the house of the IGP, he added.

He told the court that his statement was recorded by the police and the district magistrate, Malir, under section 164. During cross examination by defence lawyers, he said an inquiry board of army, headed by a major general, had also recorded his statement on October 24, 1999.

The defence, then moved an application for the supply of the inquiry report. ATC Judge, Rehmat Husain Jafferi, reserved his orders on the application of the defence on which he would give his ruling on Saturday.