Pak Chief Justice skips Independence Day celebrations

The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, who was suspended by President Pervez Musharraf and later reinstated following a Supreme Court verdict, did not attend the flag hoisting ceremony at the Convention Centre here on the occasion of the countrys 61st Independence Day.

Islamabad, Aug 15 : The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, who was suspended by President Pervez Musharraf and later reinstated following a Supreme Court verdict, did not attend the flag hoisting ceremony at the Convention Centre here on the occasion of the country's 61st Independence Day.

The Chief Justice was invited to the event, as is tradition, but his designated seat on the dais at the Centre remained empty, the Daily Times reported.

Sources said that after his reinstatement, Justice Chaudhry decided that he would not attend any official functions.

He also skipped the Independence Day celebrations at President's House on Monday night, despite being invited along with his wife.

On July 20, a 13-member full bench of the apex court had declared the March 9 suspension order on Chief Justice Chaudhry as unconstitutional, and restored his designation to him.

ANI