UK: LONDON: NAWAZ SHARIF'S SON HASAN SPEAKS

UK: LONDON: NAWAZ SHARIF'S SON HASAN SPEAKS

English/Nat

The son of ousted Pakistani Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, has said he’s disappointed with the decision to sentence his father to life imprisonment on a charge of hijacking.

Speaking in the United Kingdom on Thursday, Hassan Sharif said he although he and his family were relieved his father escaped the death sentence they had been hoping for an acquittal.

Immediate reaction to the sentencing on Thursday of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has come in from his son.

Speaking in London, Hasan Sharif said he was relieved his father was not sentenced to death, but that Sharif’s family had been hoping for the acquittal of all charges.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
“I was thoroughly disappointed. I was hoping for a total acquittal for my father. As the other five accused have been acquitted from the court we were absolutely hoping for that decision.”
Question: You must be relieved it’s not the death penalty?
“Yes, of course as a son all my thanks goes to my God that his life is out of danger, but at the same time we are disappointed by this decision.”
SUPER CAPTION: Hasan Sharif, son of Nawaz Sharif

His son said the fight to save his father from life imprisonment was far from over.

He said the family would now be launching an appeal in Pakistan’s high court.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
“Well I don’t think emotions are to be counted in at this moment, because we have to do a lot of work for him, we have to do a lot of fighting for him and our next step is to keep the fight on. We will be appealing at the high court of Pakistan.
Question: And protests on the streets of Pakistan, is this going to happen?
“Well it will happen if it’s allowed by the military. Until now the Karachi streets around the court of Pakistan are sealed. There’s an atmosphere of curfew. Nobody’s allowed to go anywhere near my family or to the terrace courts in Pakistan so it’s a more difficult situation than we are expecting.”
Question: Have you had the chance to talk this over with your family in Pakistan?
“Not, at all, I’m desperately trying to reach my family and I will still do that in a while. But telephone lines are very busy, they’re terribly busy and I’ve totally failed to reach my family at home.”
Question: What is your message to your father if you could speak to him now?
“Well, I think I don’t need to give him any message, because he is – by the grace of God – in very high spirits as I was told by one of my family members earlier on today and he has heard this decision gracefully and I’m sure he will be fine by the grace of God, absolutely.”
SUPER CAPTION: Hassan Sharif, son of Nawaz Sharif

Sharif was found guilty of hijacking and terrorism for refusing to allow a passenger plane carrying the army chief, General Pervez Musharraf to land in Pakistan.

It occurred as the army toppled Sharif’s government in October last year.

Sharif had pleaded not guilty to all charges which included attempted murder and kidnapping of which he was acquitted.

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