The indictment of deposed Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and six other accused in a lane hijacking case was put off till December 8.

Judge of Anti-Terrorism Court No. 1 Rehmat Hussain Jafri Saturday accepted the prosecution's plea that after amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 1997, it needs more time to prepare the chargelist against Sharif and others.

This was the second postponement of the indictment, which had earlier been put off from November 26 to December 4.

On the arrival of Sharif and others, leaders and activists of Pakistan Muslim League, the former ruling party headed by the deposed prime minister, staged a noisy protest and raised a slogan in favor of Sharif.

The former prime minister, who was accused of attempted murder, hijacking and criminal conspiracy, Saturday termed the amendment to Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 as mala fide.

The military government, which assumed power after a coup on October 12, wants to appoint its hand-picked judge to preside over the hijacking case, he said.

The military government amended the act three days ago, extending the anti-terrorism courts' jurisdiction to cases of "waging war or attempting to wage war against Pakistan" and hijacking as well as a number of other offenses. (Xinhua)