'Nawaz rightly convicted in plane case'

ISLAMABAD - Prosecutor General Sindh Shahadat Awan Wednesday told the apex court, hearing Nawaz Sharifs appeal against his conviction in plane hijacking case, that the appellant was rightly convicted in the case.
Counsel for Nawaz Sharif, Khawaja Haris Advocate concluded his arguments before the five-member larger bench of the Supreme Court, which is expected to issue its short order in the case today (Thursday).
Justice Tassadaq Hussain Jilani heads the bench comprising Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk, Justice Moosa K Leghari, Justice Sheikh Hakim Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani.
Khwaja Haris, Counsel for Nawaz Sharif submitted that Nawaz Sharif had no intentions to divert the plane but he had done so in the larger national interest to overcome the division created in the Army over the replacement of their top boss. The court expressed its wonder as to why the statements of former President Musharraf and other 198 passengers of the plane were not recorded.
Prosecutor General Sindh Shahadat Ali Awan told the bench that the appeal was time-barred and had been filed after a delay of 3072 days, while an appeal could be filed within 30 days of the conviction, he said.
He also said that Nawaz Sharif was rightly convicted in plane hijacking case, as, he said, there were ample evidences against him and the evidence of the approver (the then DG CAA Amin Ullah Ch) was also in support of the conviction, he said.
Shahadat Awan further submitted that Nawaz Sharif had returned on November 25, 2007 from exile but even then he did not file appeal against his conviction in plane hijacking case.
The court observed that the petitioner was not allowed to enter the country despite orders of the apex court and asked whether it was not a good ground for condoning of the delay in filing the appeal.
The Prosecutor General Sindh further said that the FIR registered on November 10, 1999 did not include the offence of hijacking but he said it was inserted later after the promulgation of Anti-Terrorism Ordinance on December 2, 1999.