Chief Justice enlarges bench hearing petitions against Musharraf

Islamabad, Oct 10 (UNI) Pakistan Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has reconstituted the larger bench of the Supreme Court hearing petitions challenging President Pervez Musharraf's candidacy for the October 6 presidential polls.

Justice Chaudhry inducted Justice M Javed Buttar in the ten-judge bench.

The Chief Justice also constituted a seven-member special bench to hear the contempt of court application of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), regarding the forced deportation of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

The Supreme Court would resume hearing on both the cases on October 17.

The special bench hearing Mr Sharif's deportation case comprises Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokar, Justice M Javed Buttar, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed and Justice Syed Jamshed Ali.

The larger Supreme Court bench, now extended to 11 members, will hear the constitutional petitions challenging the acceptance of nomination papers of Gen Musharraf by the Election Commission.

The bench headed by Justice Javed Iqbal had adjourned hearing of these cases till October 17.

The chief justice also included Justice Chaudhry Ejaz Ahmed in the bench to replace Justice Nasirul Mulk, who has gone on leave.

Justice Nasirul Mulk was one of the members of the ten-judge bench hearing pleas against the presidential election.

The bench in its short order last week had allowed holding of the presidential election slated for October 6 but barred the Election Commission from announcing the official notification of results till the final disposal of the petitions.

Justice (retd) Wajihuddin Ahmed and PPPP President Makhdoom Amin Fahim had challenged the candidacy of Gen Musharraf to the presidential election.

UNI