Bhutto trial delayed by strike

Decision could end Ms Bhutto's exile

The Supreme Court appeal of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been put on hold by a one-day lawyers' strike in the country.

The court hearing opened on Monday as Ms Bhutto and her imprisoned husband, Asif Zardari, appealed against their 1999 conviction on charges of corruption.

Ms Bhutto's husband Asif Zardari is in prison

A special high court bench three years ago found Ms Bhutto and her husband guilty of misusing their authority to award a multi-million dollar contract to a Swiss firm.

They were sentenced to five-year jail terms with a ban on holding public office for seven years.

Both Ms Bhutto and the present military government know that this is a crucial case that could have a direct bearing on the future politics in the country.

Landmark decision

If the Supreme Court overturns the lower court's decision, it would pave the way for the former prime minister to end her self-imposed exile and return to the country.

Pakistan's military leader Gen Musharraf considers the case 'crucial'

For this reason, both sides have acquired the services of top lawyers to defend their respective positions in the case.

Senior members of the government believe it is an open and shut case of corruption and are hoping the Supreme Court will reject the appeal.

Ms Bhutto's lawyers are equally confident of winning, especially after a recent report in the Sunday Times newspaper in London which cast serious doubts on the integrity of one of the trial judges.

Audio evidence

The report was said to be based on audio tapes of telephone conversations between one of the judges who was conducting Ms Bhutto's trial and two senior members of the previous government of Nawaz Sharif.

According to the newspaper, a former official of Pakistan's intelligence service had provided tapes.

Ms Bhutto's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to admit the tapes as a fresh piece of evidence which they say would establish that the government tried to influence the outcome of the trial.

The Supreme Court asked state lawyers to reply to the defence demand by Wednesday.

The presiding judge in the case said that the court would be available on Tuesday, but that he would adjourn the proceedings if no lawyers were available.

The lawyers' strike is to protest against military rule in the country, which has lasted more than a year now.