Pakistani lawyers protest suspension of top judge

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

ISLAMABAD, Mar 11 (Reuters) Pakistani lawyers are to boycott courts in a protest over the effective suspension of the country's top judge pending an inquiry into what state media said were accusations of misconduct and misuse of authority.

The government said on Friday a Supreme Judicial Council would hold an inquiry into ''numerous complaints and serious allegations'' against Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary, the state-run APP news agency reported.

The government has not released details of the allegations against Chaudhary but one lawyer and legal analyst said the action against him might be related to his efforts to account for people who have disappeared after being taken into custody.

Today, police had sealed off Chaudhary's residence in the capital, Islamabad, and said no one was allowed in to see him.

Qazi Anwar, chairman of the executive committee of the Pakistan Bar Association, said Chaudhary was under house arrest and lawyers across the country would boycott courts tomorrow and Tuesday as a protest against his treatment.

''We're protesting because the chief justice of this country is under house arrest, he is detained,'' Anwar told Reuters today.

''This is insult to the entire nation ... Is it a fair that you're levelling allegations against the chief justice of Pakistan and his version is not coming out?'' The government denies Chaudhary is under house arrest.

Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim Khan said there were no restrictions on his movements. ''It's up to him who he sees and who he meets too. It's as simple as that,'' Khan said.

Khan said the action against Chaudhary was in line with the constitution.

Private lawyer and legal analyst Anees Jillani said Chaudhary had taken up the case of hundreds of people who have gone missing after being taken into custody, many apparently suspected of links with Islamist militants.

Human rights groups have criticised the disappearance of at least 400 people since Pakistan joined the US-led war on terrorism in 2001. Chaudhary had recently called on the government to provide details of the missing people.

''One of the major factors behind this is the case of the missing people because it was getting embarrassing for the government,'' Jillani said.

But Khan denied that.

''Lots has been read into this ... there is absolutely nothing that is related to the allegations that have been made,'' Khan said, referring to the suggestions the action against Chaudhary stemmed from his handling of the case of the disappeared.

REUTERS SP BST1655

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