Sharif case adjourned till Dec 8

ISLAMABAD, Dec 4 (PTI, Reuters) — An anti-terrorist court today set December 8 as the fresh date for filing of charges against deposed Pakistani Premier Nawaz Sharif and six others in the treason and hijacking case after the prosecution sought more time citing a recent amendment to the Anti-Terrorists Act.

Judge Rehmat Hussain Jafri ruled that the next court appearance would be on Wednesday (December 8), allowing the appointment of a new judge after the government changed the law and said only high court judges could preside over anti-terrorism courts. The judge turned down a prosecution appeal for a week-long adjournment made after the government notification late on Thursday of the change in procedure. Top prosecutor in the case Raja Qureshi, Advocate-General of Sind, said he expected the new judge to be named in two or three days. "The government is expected to appoint a high court judge in consultation with the Sind High Court Chief Justice," he told the court. "In light of the change in the law, the challan (chargesheet) will be submitted before a high court judge," Mr Quareshi said.

Sara Hussain, daughter-in-law of Nawaz Sharif, deposed Prime Minister, comes out of a police station after meeting Sharif in Lahore on Friday. — AP/PTI photo

While waiting for the judge to make his announcement, Mr Sharif accused the army of being vindictive and vengeful. He told reporters that his conditions in jail were"inhuman."

The prosecution sought a week's adjournment for submitting of the chargesheet in the high profile case which has attracted both national and international attention.

The defence team, however, objected to the adjournment plea alleging it was only a "delaying tactic" and demanded that the prosecution be asked to submit the challan.

The judge after hearing the two sides, however, allowed the prosecution time for another three days and adjourned the proceedings till December 8.