Life sentence for Sharif

The ousted Pakistani prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, has been sentenced to life imprisonment on two charges of hijacking and terrorism.

However, he was acquitted of two other charges - attempted murder and kidnapping.

The court has found accused Nawaz Sharif guilty . . . and sentences him to life imprisonment

Judge Rehmat Jafri

Mr Sharif's six co-defendants - who include his brother, Shahbaz, were acquitted of all charges.

Mr Sharif's lawyers have said they will lodge an appeal.

In a message issued through his lawyers, Mr Sharif said: "Today's verdict proves there is no longer any justice in Pakistan."

Today's verdict proves there is no longer any justice in Pakistan

Nawaz Sharif

The sentence was condemned by Mr Sharif's wife, Kulsoom, who said her husband was the victim of a personal vendetta.

Referring to his party symbol, she said the military "had put the tiger in a cage and could not afford to release him."

But Javed Jabbar, an advisor to Pakistan's military ruler, General Pervez Musharraf said the trial was absolutely fair by any standards.

"This is one of the most transparent trials in recent memory," Mr Jabbar said.

Mr Sharif's relatives have been told they can spend two hours with him before he is taken back to prison to begin his life sentence.

The chief prosecutor in the case has said that a life sentence can mean 25 years.

Compensation order

Delivering his verdict at a packed court in Karachi, Judge Rehmat Jafri also ordered Mr Sharif to forfeit all his property, and to pay compensation to all those on board the plane he attempted to prevent from landing in Karachi.

Mr Sharif listened without emotion as the ruling was handed down, but there were gasps from his relatives and shouts of "Long live Nawaz Sharif."

Mr Sharif's wife Kulsoom, who was seated at the rear of the courtroom not far from her husband, whispered prayers from the Koran.

Nawaz Sharif: Beginning a life sentence

The prosecution had argued for the death sentence for the charge of hijacking.

There was heavy security around the court building in the run up to the verdict with approach roads sealed off.

A convoy of armoured personnel carriers brought the ousted premier and his co-accused to court shortly before 0500 GMT. They had pleaded innocent of all charges.

The case concerns the events of 12 October last year, the date of the military coup which deposed Mr Sharif.

Plane landing

The prosecution said that on that day Mr Sharif attempted to prevent an aircraft carrying the general who leads the military government, Pervez Musharraf, from landing when it was running short of fuel.

Trial timeline

12 October, 1999, Sharif overthrown in military coup

November 1999, Sharif charged with murder plot

26 January, 2000 trial starts following several delays

28 February, 2000 Sharif defence pulls out of trial, saying he is denied a fair hearing

3 March, Sharif lawyer shot dead

21 March, prosecution concludes arguments

General Musharraf accused Mr Sharif of endangering the lives of those on board.

The defence argued that the general's plane was eventually given permission to refuel, and that no harm was intended to anyone.

The judge said Nawaz Sharif bore responsibility for taking control of the aircraft.

In his ruling, he said that had the plane tried to land at Karachi airport with the runway lights switched off and fire vehicles parked nearby, then it would undoubtedly have crashed.

The judge dismissed the defence argument that at the most critical stage of the flight when fuel reserves were low, it was under the control of General Musharraf who was on board at the time.