ISLAMABAD - The list of charges presented before the Supreme Court of Pakistan for disqualification of Nawaz Sharif is mainly based on his convictions from courts of law. Nawaz Sharif has been elected twice as the chief executive of the country. His first term started from November 1, 1990 to July 18, 1993 and the second term started from February 17, 1997 to October 12, 1999. Earlier, he also served country's biggest province of Punjab as Chief Minister in 1980s. Separate convictions of Nawaz Sharif in Plane Hijacking Case and Helicopter Case provided basis for his disqualification in the apex court. Furthermore, it was alleged that Nawaz Sharif was bringing disrespect and defamation to the judges of superior courts by repeatedly delivering derogatory speeches and addressing news conferences since November 3, 2007 when former dictator Pervez Musharraf refurbished the judiciary through the magic of Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) after imposing emergency in the country. The convictions against Nawaz Sharif include a life term rigorous imprisonment awarded to him in Plane Hijacking Case. On charges of trying to hijack the plane of the then army chief and former dictator Pervez Musharraf on October 12, 1999, Anti-Terrorism Court No 1 Judge Rehmat Hussain Jaferry awarded life term rigorous imprisonment to Nawaz Sharif under section 402 (B) of Pakistan Penal Code. In the judgement delivered on April 6, 2000, the same court also awarded another life term jail to Nawaz Sharif under Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 in the same case. Furthermore, the court also imposed a fine of five hundred thousand rupees on former Prime Minister. In case of default, the convict was directed to undergo another five years rigorous imprisonment. The court also ordered confiscation of all the property owned by Nawaz Sharif in the same judgement. The Plane Hijacking Case was registered at Airport Police Station, Karachi under FIR No 201 on November 10, 1999 against Nawaz Sharif, his brother Shahbaz Sharif, the then Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Ghous Ali Shah, the then Inspector General Police (IGP) Sindh Rana Maqbool and the then Chairman, Pakistan International Airlines Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. All other accused except Nawaz Sharif were acquitted from charges after the trial. Nawaz Sharif had filed an appeal in the Sindh High Court against his conviction. However, a full bench of the Sindh High Court, comprising of Justice Syed Saeed Ashhad, Justice Sarmad Jalal Usmani and Justice Wahid Buksh Baroohi dismissed the appeal of Nawaz Sharif on October 30, 2000. The conviction was not further challenged in Supreme Court as Sharifs flew out of the country after striking a deal with the Musharraf regime with the mediation of Saudi royals. The second case in which Nawaz Sharif was convicted had been decided by Judge Farrukh Latif in Accountability Court in Attock Fort on July 22, 2000. Known more commonly as the Helicopter Case, the case was filed against Nawaz Sharif through Reference No 2 of year 2000 on February 08, 2000 under section 10 of NAB Ordinance read with 9-A (V) of the same law. While holding him guilty of charges regarding tax evasion by not mentioning use of a helicopter during his election campaign in his election returns, the court awarded 14 years jail to Nawaz Sharif. In addition, the former premier was barred from holding any public office for 21 years besides being ordered to pay a fine of Rs 20 million. " Assad Hameed