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Chargesheet against Sharief deferred again

A Pakistani court today adjourned the formal charging of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharief for a week. Judge Shabir Ahmed, of the anti-terrorism court, instructed lawyers to return next Monday to settle a dispute over evidence.

The court had been expected to formally charge Sharief, his brother Shahbaz, the former chief minister of Punjab province, and five others with criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, attempted murder and hijacking -- a charge that could lead to the death sentence.

The court today asked the defence and prosecution to bring experts on December 20 to settle a dispute over whether copies of key audio and video evidence should be given to the defence before the laying of formal charges.

The court last Wednesday delayed formal charges against Sharief and the others until Monday, saying the chargesheet submitted by the prosecution was incomplete.

Laying of formal charges had also been delayed a week earlier to allow the government to appoint a new judge after a change in the law governing proceedings in the anti-terrorism court.

UNI

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