New Pakistans top full court to hear Justice Chaudhrys petition

The full court of Pakistans Supreme Court that will hear the petition of Pakistans suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has been reconstituted.

Islamabad, May 14 : The full court of Pakistan's Supreme Court that will hear the petition of Pakistan's suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has been reconstituted.

The acting Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court, Rana Bhagwandas, on Monday reconstituted the 14-judge full court that will hear 23 Constitutional petitions on Tuesday, including Chaudhry's.

The new SC full court comprises of 13 judges headed by Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday, reported The News.

Other members are - Justice Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokhar, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice M. Javed Buttar, Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad, Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmed and Justice Syed Jamshed Ali and the ad hoc judges, Justice Hamid Ali Mirza and Justice Ghulam Rabbani.

The decision to reconstitute the full court came hours after Justice Falak Sher refused to be part of the full court of Pakistan's highest judicial body, saying the reference regarding seniority of Justice Chaudhry was still under trial in the Supreme Court.

Justice Chaudhry in his petition to the Supreme Court has challenged the constitutionality of President Pervez Musharraf's reference of March 9 against him, based on which he was suspended, and the composition and competence of five-judge Supreme Judicail Council (SJC) to inquire into the charges against him.

Chief Justice Bhagwandas had set up the full court after a Supreme Court bench stayed an inquiry by the SJC into charges of misconduct and abuse of authority against justice Chaudhry.

The presidential action triggered uproar by the lawyer community. On Sunday, fresh violence between supporters of Pakistan Musharraf and Justice Chaudhry surfaced in Karachi, leaving three more persons killed and several others injured.

Protests against Saturday's Karachi violence continued across Pakistan on Monday, with Opposition parties observing shutdown in several cities, and lawyers boycotting their work.

ANI