Former Pakistan Leader Speaks

Former Premier Nawaz Sharif spoke out publicly Monday for the first time since the army swept him from power last month, insisting he is innocent of treason and railing against the military leadership that is putting him on trial.

Sharif, making his second appearance before a special anti-terrorism court, was also allowed to meet with his wife and family, whom he had not seen since his ouster Oct. 12.
"I have been subjected to solitary confinement," Sharif told reporters in the courtroom. "I was not given newspapers or television. There was no contact with the outside world. I was confined to a room and I did not know what was happening outside the room."

"We are still subjected to the same treatment," he added, saying his son and brother were also being held.

The appearance before the judge -- who ordered Sharif's detention continued -- was the ousted leader's first opportunity to speak at length to journalists. Previously, he had passed notes through lawyers or was quoted by aides.

Sharif has been charged with treason, hijacking and conspiracy to murder, because he allegedly denied permission for a plane carrying Gen. Pervez Musharraf and some 200 passengers permission to land. The charges carry the death penalty or life in prison. Seven other officials face similar charges.

"We are all innocent," Sharif said Monday, speaking to journalists as the court waited for the judge to appear. "We are not involved in any of these accusations or allegations that have been framed (against) us. We know we have not done anything wrong."

He accused the military of illegally taking power and said it had brought the charges in an attempt to justify their coup against his civilian government.

"Nobody has a right to remove us from office. We are a democratically elected government," he said. "Whatever has been done has no basis, no justification." He said an open and fair trial would "expose the hollowness of accusations against us."

Sharif waved to supporters as he was brought to the court building in an armored personnel carrier, surrounded by dozens of machine gun toting paramilitary troops. During the hearing, dozens of his backers outside shouted, "Long live Nawaz Sharif" and "Nawaz Sharif we are with you." He returns to the court in the southern city of Karachi on Friday, when charges are expected to be filed.

A U.S. observer is attending the trial and was present Monday, State Department spokesman James Rubin said in Washington. He reiterated Washington's concern that Sharif gets a fair trial, saying, "We have made these points directly to authorities in Pakistan."

The coup that ended Sharif's three-year rule was sparked when he tried to fire Musharraf as army chief. Within hours, soldiers moved against government bodies while Musharraf, on a visit to Sri Lanka at the time, returned home in an airplane. The plane was barred from landing at Karachi irport until the army took over the control tower. When the plane finally landed, it had only seven minutes of fuel left.

After Monday's hearing, Sharif met for an hour with his mother, wife and two daughters inside the District Jail Malir, surrounded by high walls topped by embedded shards of glass.

"I ask people, please don't believe the false propaganda against my father. I want to say my father is innocent," Sharif's eldest daughter Maryam told reporters afterward. "Whatever has been told to the people is wrong. My father is a very truthful, honest and sincere person, who wanted to do a lot for Pakistan."

As her grandmother, wrapped in a black shawl with only her bespectacled eyes visible, and mother stood nearby, Maryam said Sharif was in good spirits, but "he has lost a lot of weight and that makes me think he is not fully well."