Islamabad: In a major setback to Pakistan's mainstream Opposition parties, a court today (Apr 12, 2004) sentenced top Opposition leader Javed Hashmi to 23 years imprisonment on sedition charges.

While passing the sentence on the President of the 15 party Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), District and Sessions Judge, Adila, Chaudhry Asad Reza, also imposed a fine of Rs 42,000 and ruled that Hashmi would serve an additional eight months jail term if he failed to pay the amount.

Hashmi, a close associate of deposed Premier Nawaz Sharif and also the acting President of Sharif's PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz), was arrested in October 2003 after he reportedly distributed to the media a letter purportedly written to him by an unknown Army man voicing opposition to President Pervez Musharraf's involvement in the country's politics.

The letter written on the letterhead of Army Headquarters also complained about the alleged appointment of corrupt Army officers to civilian posts.

After hearing the judgement, a large crowd of PML-N activists, who were gathered at the court premises in Rawalpindi, shouted anti-government slogans.

Terming the judgement against Hashmi as "subversion of justice", senior PML-N leader Qaza Rafiq told reporters that the party would appeal against the judgment and hold rallies and meetings all over the country to oppose Musharraf's rule.