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Pakistan coup faces legal challenge
The Supreme Court is to take up the hearing on 31 January |
Pakistan's Supreme Court has said it will begin hearing petitions next month challenging the overthrow of the Nawaz Sharif government in a military coup.
Several legal challenges to the military takeover by General Pervez Musharraf will be taken up for consideration on 31 January.
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It also wants the suspension of the country's constitution to be revoked.
 It is an important and sensitive case  |
| Chief Justice Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui |
The petitions were filed last month by lawyers on behalf of the PML, as well as several private citizens.
Court appearance
The PML called the military action "illegal and unconstitutional" and denied the army's allegation that the Sharif government was corrupt and undemocratic.
"It's a very important and sensitive constitutional petition," said PML leader Zafar Ali Shah.
"We want parliament, democracy and the constitution restored," he said.
Shabaz and Nawaz Sharif will be formally charged on Wednesday |
The charges relate to allegations that Mr Sharif and his associates tried to prevent a commercial aircraft carrying General Musharraf from landing at Karachi airport on 12 October.
The plane is alleged to have been running low on fuel, and the order to divert the aircraft away from Karachi was said to have endangered the lives of those on board.
A special anti-terrorism court was set up to hear the cases. Last week, its powers were widened and a senior high court judge was asked to take over the hearings.
Democracy suspended
Soon after taking over, General Musharraf pledged to clean up Pakistan, cracking down on corruption and strengthening the crisis-hit economy.
Addressing foreign diplomats in the Pakistan capital over the weekend, he promised to restore local democracy within a year.
But he did not say when a civilian government would return to power in Islamabad.
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See also: |
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04 Dec 99 | South Asia |
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Sharif charges delayed |
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30 Nov 99 | South Asia |
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Analysis: Justice under scrutiny |
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04 Dec 99 | South Asia |
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Musharraf promises local democracy |
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11 Nov 99 | South Asia |
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Pakistan's coup: The 17-hour victory |
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08 Nov 99 | South Asia |
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Musharraf promises 'stronger democracy' |
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03 Nov 99 | South Asia |
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Pakistani 'plunderers' warned |
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22 Nov 99 | South Asia |
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Military takeover challenged in court |
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Pakistan Government |
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