DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243169
TITLE=PAKISTAN / MILITARY (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  NEWLY ESTABLISHED MILITARY COURTS IN PAKISTAN HAVE  
SENTENCED (THURSDAY) TWO MEN TO DEATH AFTER CONVICTING THEM OF 
MURDER AND RAPE.  AYAZ GUL HAS DETAILS FROM ISLAMABAD.

TEXT:  THE JUDGMENTS ARE THE FIRST BY THE MILITARY COURTS THAT 
PRIME MINISTER NAWAZ SHARIF SET UP IN SINDH PROVINCE AFTER HE 
DISMISSED THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN LATE OCTOBER.  HE SET UP THE 
COURTS IN AN ATTEMPT TO QUELL VIOLENCE IN THE PROVINCE.

THE VERDICTS, HANDED DOWN BY TWO DIFFERENT MILITARY COURTS IN 
KARACHI, THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF SINDH PROVINCE, CAME AFTER 
LITTLE OVER A WEEK'S TRIAL IN A MURDER AND A RAPE CASE. 

COURT OFFICIALS SAY ONE OF THE MEN WAS SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR 
RAPING A TEENAGE GIRL LAST YEAR. HE IS SAID TO BE AN ACTIVIST OF 
THE MUTTAHIDA QAUMI MOVEMENT (M-Q-M), AN ETHNIC POLITICAL PARTY 
WHICH DOMINATES POLITICS IN KARACHI. 

PRIME MINISTER SHARIF'S GOVERNMENT HOLDS THE M-Q-M, A FORMER ALLY
OF MR. SHARIF'S RULING PARTY (PAKISTAN MUSLIM LEAGUE)  
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND ETHNIC VIOLENCE 
THAT HAS KILLED NEARLY 800 PEOPLE IN KARACHI THIS YEAR. THE M-Q-M
DENIES THE CHARGE.

THE OFFICIALS SAY THE OTHER MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH WAS FOUND 
GUILTY OF KILLING A POLICEMAN IN MAY OF THIS YEAR.  THREE OF HIS 
ACCOMPLICES RECEIVED JAIL TERMS.

THE CONVICTS CAN APPEAL AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY ONLY BEFORE A 
MILITARY COURT, WHICH IS BOUND TO GIVE ITS FINAL VERDICT IN THREE
DAYS. 

PAKISTAN'S OPPOSITION PARTIES AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS HAVE 
OPPOSED MR. SHARIF'S MOVE TO SET UP MILITARY COURTS IN 
VIOLENCE-TORN KARACHI, THE COUNTRY'S COMMERCIAL CAPITAL. (SIGNED)

NEB/AG/KL

17-Dec-98 12:24 PM EST (1724 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.