Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Friday ordered the release on bail of a senior Opposition leader who was sentenced to 23 years in prison for trying to incite an army mutiny, a defence lawyer said.

The decision to free Javed Hashmi, a close ally of exiled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, will bolster political opposition to President Gen Pervez Musharraf, who plans to seek a new presidential term from lawmakers this fall.

The military leader has been weakened by his failed attempt to oust the country’s chief justice. He also faces a tide of Islamic militant violence and US demands for tougher action against al-Qaeda.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, who was suspended by Mr Musharraf in March but cleared of charges of misconduct last month, headed the three-judge panel that ordered Mr Hashmi’s release.

Mr Hashmi, an arch-critic of the president, was convicted in 2004 on charges that rights groups alleged were politically motivated. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison for circulating a letter from some soldiers against Mr Musharraf.

Letter that did him in
The letter, written on military stationery but unsigned, criticised Mr Musharraf for making Pakistan a key ally of the United States in its war on terror in Afghanistan, and praised parliament for opposing a US request for Pakistan to send troops to join coalition forces in Iraq.

It also called for a parliamentary debate to examine Mr Musharraf’s 1999 coup, and demanded an investigation into the Kargil operation earlier that year. Mr Musharraf was then the military chief of staff.

The government at the time accused Mr Hashmi of using a forged letter. He was arrested three days after displaying the letter at a news conference. He faced charges including forgery, inciting mutiny and sedition.

Mr Hashmi’s lawyers sought a review of the case from the Supreme Court, where Mr Chaudhry and two other judges on Friday agreed to release him pending the review on bail of about $800.

“The court allowed bail for him,” said Akram Sheikh, Mr Hashmi’s lawyer.

Move welcomed
Raja Zafarul Haq, the chairman of Mr Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League-N party, welcomed the ruling, which could further encourage Mr Sharif — the elected leader ousted by Mr Musharraf in the 1999 coup — to attempt a return to Pakistan from exile in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Sharif and his brother appealed to the Supreme Court to be allowed to return to contest parliamentary elections due later this year.

PACT WITH PERVEZ

Bhutto did it for personal gains: PPP

Islamabad, pti: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has slammed its chief Benazir Bhutto over the recent pact with President Pervez Musharraf and alleged that the former prime minister struck the deal only for her personal financial gains.

“She just wants her money back and is not interested in the party or its future,” The News reported on Friday, quoting a senior PPP leader. He said party workers were offended with Bhutto’s Abu Dhabi meeting with Mr Musharraf.

According to the unnamed leader, Ms Bhutto and her husband’s frozen wealth, including both inland and offshore bank accounts as well as assets, is worth $1.5 billion. This has also been confirmed by National Accountability Bureau insiders probing cases against the former Premier.