Re: Sharif arrives in Jeddah - Saudi Version
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=qw958146901363S616
**Supreme Court validates Musharraf military coup - May 12 2000 **
Islamabad - Pakistan’s supreme court on Friday validated the military take-over by General Pervaz Musharraf last October on the grounds of necessity, but ordered civilian rule to be restored as soon as possible. The full court headed by Chief Justice Irshad Hasan Khan rejected petitions filed by deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League and several others challenging the October 12 coup. The petitioners had pleaded with the court to declare the take-over illegal and restore the suspended constitution and parliament as well as the ousted government. The military regime accused Sharif of misrule, authoritarianism, corruption and ruining the nation’s vital institutions.
The verdict by the top court was announced after 10 weeks of hearing the petitions. - Sapa-AFP