President Musharraf files reference against chief justice

Islamabad, Mar 9 (UNI) Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today filed a reference against the country's Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry for gross misuse of authority and conduct.

Iftikhar Chaudhry has ceased to function and the President has appointed Justice Javed Iqbal as the acting Chief Justice.

This is for the first time in the Pakistan's judicial history that a reference has been filed against the Chief Justice in the seven-member supreme judicial council.

The reference has been filed under article 209 of the constitution in consultations with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Pakistan's private Geo TV reported the reference was filed after Iftikhar Chaudhry failed to defend the charge-sheet conveyed to him during his recent meetings with President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

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