Pakistan's former prime minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, has been found guilty of attempted murder, kidnapping, terrorism and hijacking. Mr. Sharif was spared the death penalty; instead, he was given two life sentences, his property was confiscated and he was fined 2 million rupees. His brother, a codefendant, was acquitted.
Mr. Sharif is unlikely to be much missed. His term in office was characterized by virtual economic collapse, widespread corruption and the elimination of any checks on his power. Pakistan followed India in developing a nuclear bomb and continued its reckless attempts to stir up trouble in Kashmir.
One of the architects of the Kashmir misadventures now rules Pakistan. Gen. Pervez Musharraf, former head of the army, seized control of the country in a bloodless coup Oct. 12. He claims to have deposed the prime minister only after Mr. Sharif tried to kill him by refusing to allow the plane the general was on to land at Karachi airport. Ostensibly, the trial was to determine the truth behind those allegations.