Sharif acquitted in '99 Musharraf plane hijack case

Islamabad: Pakistan Supreme Court acquitted Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif of hijacking charges stemming from the 1999 coup against his government.

The ruling removes the final ban on Sharif from running for public office.

Sharif had been banned from office after being found guilty of hijacking General Pervez Musharraf's plane in 1999.

Sharif was prime minister of Pakistan at that time while Musharraf was the head of Pakistan's army. Sharif has insisted the ban was politically motivated.

Prosecutor Shahadat Awan said the Supreme Court decision on Friday was unanimous.

It was the third ruling in the past two months to lift a ban on Sharif standing for public office.