Musharraf respects SC decision on Justice Chaudhry

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf respects the Supreme Court verdict to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Presidents spokesman Major General (Retd.) Rashid Qureshi said today.

Islamabad, July 20 : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf respects the Supreme Court verdict to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, President's spokesman Major General (Retd.) Rashid Qureshi said today.

When asked for Musharraf's reaction over the Supreme Court decision, the spokesman said, "The President respects the decision of the Supreme Court."

"The President has stated earlier that any judgment the Supreme Court arrives at will be honoured, respected and adhered to," he added.

In what is being seen as a major setback for Musharraf ahead of the general elections in the country, a 13-member full bench of the apex court declared the March 9 suspension order on Justice Chaudhry as unconstitutional and restored his designation to him.

The Supreme Court decision came during the hearing of an appeal by Chaudhry against his suspension by President Pervez Musharraf.

"The reference of the President dated March 9, 2007 is set aside," presiding judge Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday told the court, adding that the panel of judges had reached a 10-3 decision in Chaudhry's favour after a 43-day hearing.

"As a further consequence, the petitioner, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, shall be deemed to be holding the said office and shall always be deemed to have been so holding the same," he added.

Justice Chaudhry had challenged Musharraf's decision to suspend him on charges of misusing his office and to have a judicial panel investigate him for alleged misconduct, a move that triggered political and legal turmoil across the country.

Chaudhry's lead counsel, Aitzaz Ahsan, had filed a petition against the presidential reference under article 184-III of the Constitution.

The 13-member full court headed by Justice Khalilur Rahman Ramday, comprising of Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice M Javed Buttar, Justice Tassadduq Hussain Jillani, Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad, Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, Justice Ch Ijaz Ahmed, Justice Syed Jamshed Ali, Justice Hamid Ali Mirza and Justice Ghulam Rabbani.

ANI