Sharif lawyers fight death demand

Tight security was in place outside the Karachi court

Lawyers for ousted Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, have challenged an attempt to get a life term imposed on him last month changed to death sentence.

Mr Sharif was given a life sentence after being found guilty on charges of hijacking and terrorism by a special anti-terrorist.

Prosecution lawyers had asked for a death sentence.

Mr Sharif's lawyers argue that the appeal - filed by the prosecution in the Sindh High Court - is invalid because it has not come from the country's military government.

Both sides are now seeking to appeal against that decision.

No authority

Defence lawyers insist that the prosecution has no authority to file an appeal against the decision on its own.

The appeal could be filed... only on being directed by the federal or provincial government

Defence lawyer Aijaz Batalvi

"The appeal could be filed by the learned advocate general only on being directed by the federal or provincial government, " said defence laywer Aijaz Batalvi.

"The present appeal has been filed without the requisite direction and, as such, merits outright dismissal," he said.

Appeals by the prosecution against six of Mr Sharif's co-defendents - who have all been acquitted - were similarly challenged.

They include one against his brother, Shahbaz Sharif.

The judge of the Sindh High Court has adjourned the hearing until Tuesday, when the prosecution is expected to present its arguments.

Facing charges

Tight security was in place outside the courtroom in the southern port city of Karachi.

Hundreds of paramilitary troops were on alert as Mr Sharif and five of his co-defendents arrived to hear the case.

Mr Sharif has been shuttling between a Karachi prison and a detention centre at Attock Fort, in the northern province of Punjab, where he is on trial in a separate corruption case.

The charges in the terrorism case relate to the events leading up to last October's military coup, when a commercial aircraft carrying Pakistan's present military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf, was denied permission to land at Karachi.

Mr Sharif was accused of issuing the order, allegedly to prevent General Musharraf - whom he had sacked as army chief earlier in the day - from returning to Pakistan.

The army took power, pledging to end corruption in Pakistan and revive the country's faltering economy.