By KUNA
Islamabad : An anti-terrorism Pakistani court Saturday acquitted the brother of former Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, in an extra-judicial killing of militants case that paved the way for him to contest a by-election, said his lawyer.
The Anti-Terrorism court in eastern Lahore city acquitted Shehbaz Sharif over accusations of involvement in the extra-judicial killing of five militants in 1998, when he was the Chief Minister of Punjab province.
The court ordered his acquittal after one of the killed militants father withdrew his case against him, his lawyer Imtiaz Kafi told newsmen.
President Musharraf ousted the government of Sharif brothers in 1999 in a bloodless coup. The two brothers after brokering a deal with Musharraf to avoid arrest in number of cases went into exile to Saudi Arabia.
Upon their return at Supreme Court orders, the two were barred from contesting Feb 18th elections on legal grounds. This was the main case against Shehbaz Sharif.
Their Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) party was one of the main winners of elections. They have announced to form a coalition government at the center with assassinated Benazir Bhuttos Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of PPP, is also likely to contest a by-election after the government has terminated graft cases against him.