The life sentence for Nawaz Sharif on charges of hijacking and terrorism, was accompanied by the surprise acquittal by the anti-terrorism court in Karachi of the other six accused. When the judgement came on 6 April, the irony, of course, was that the court itself was established by Sharif as prime minister, who had pushed it through despite vehement opposition from political parties and human rights groups.
The irony would have been starker if the former prime minister had been sentenced to hang, as was expected by many. The special anti-terrorism court judge, Rehmat Hussain Jaffri, said in his verdict by way of explanation: "The offence was committed at the spur of the moment and in the heat of passion when the then prime minister of Pakistan, who was also the defence minister, came to know that his authority was eroded by some army soldiers."
Pakistan International flight PK 805, flying into Karachi from Colombo on 12 October 1999, was carrying the army chief General Pervez Musharraf returning from a ceremonial visit and some rounds of golf in Sri Lanka. The bizarre nature of the entire episode is highlighted by the fact that this is probably the first time anywhere that people on the ground (rather than those inside the plane)—that too a sitting prime minister—was convicted as the primary conspirator in a 'hijacking'.
In preventing Gen Musharraf's plane from landing at Karachi, the ATC judge held that Sharif had conspired with the then-civil aviation chief, Aminullah Chaudhury. The former prime minister was found guilty under Section 402-B (hijacking) and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (again, a piece of legislation rammed through the then-still-functioning Parliament by Sharif). Sharif received life imprisonment on both counts, of 25 years each. All his extensive property has been attached by the court, which also fined him INR 10 lakhs, besides directing him to pay INR 20 lakhs as cumulative compensation to the 198 passengers on board. The ex-PM has recourse to appeal in the Sindh High Court and the Supreme Court.