Sharif appeal gets underway

The ousted Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has appeared in court in the southern city of Karachi at the start of an appeal trial.

Both Mr Sharif and the military government are appealing against the outcome of the trial last month in which he was sentenced to life for hijacking and terrorism.

Three judges will listen to the defence's arguments against Mr Sharif's conviction -- they will highlight the acquittal of the other six people who were tried alongside him.

The judges will also hear the prosecution argue that the life sentence should be changed to a death sentence and the six acquittals overturned.

The appeals are expected to go on for several weeks. While the appeal hearings are going on, Mr Sharif is also being tried on separate charges of corruption brought by the military government.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service