By Xinhua
Islamabad : The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Pakistan Saturday acquitted Shahbaz Sharif, president of the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) party, in a murder case, paving the way for his election.
Shahbaz Sharif, younger brother of former PM Nawaz Sharif, was accused of staging a fake police encounter during his rule in 1998 as chief minister of the central Punjab province.
He was on bail in the case and his nomination papers for elections were rejected on the basis of the court cases including this one.
Shahbaz Sharif appeared in the court and his lawyers told the court that their client was implicated in the case for political motives. They said that there was no evidence against Shahbaz Sharif in the case.
Relatives of the three slain youths in the case told the court that Shahbaz Sharif had satisfied them that he was not involved in the police encounter and they wanted to withdraw applications against him.
The court, after hearing statements from the appellants, ordered acquittal of Shahbaz Sharif, paving the way for him to become the new chief minister in Punjub.
In 2003, the court declared him abscondee in the case as he could not appear in court due to his exile.
The PML-N party, which has won more seats in the Punjab province, last month appointed Shahbaz Sharif for the office of chief minister in the province.
He will contest elections in by-election polls in the coming months to become the chief minister of Pakistan’s major province.