Pakistan government warns Sharif " Inciting people for disobedience is sedition."

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7934077.stm

The Pakistani government has warned former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that he could face charges of sedition if his supporters turn to violence.

The warning came as lawyers and Sharif supporters plan "a long march" to Islamabad this week.

They will condemn a Supreme Court order banning Mr Sharif from holding public office and the failure to reinstate judges who have been sacked.

Mr Sharif has accused President Asif Ali Zardari of influencing his ban.

The president has denied the charge.

'Disobedience'

The protesters are demanding the restoration of former chief justice of the Supreme Court, Iftikhar Chaudhry, and other judges sacked by Pakistan's former military ruler, Pervez Musharraf.

At a televised news conference, Pakistan's top security chief, Rehman Malik, said peaceful protests would be allowed, but he read out extracts from Mr Sharif's speeches accusing him of calling on people to defy the government.

"Inciting people for disobedience is sedition," Mr Malik said. "It could get life imprisonment."