Pak rejects EU concerns on Judicial reference

Islamabad, Mar 21: Pakistan has rejected European Union's concerns on presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as ''out of place''.

Pakistan's position on the issue was conveyed to the EU Troika representatives, who met a senior Foreign Ministry official in here yesterday.

''The EU Troika representatives had met, at their request, with Additional Secretary Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and they were told that the judicial reference was a constitutional and legal matter, which will be proceeded with in accordance with the constitutional and legal provisions of Pakistan," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said here today.

The meeting coincided with postponement of the Supreme Judicial Council's yesterday meeting until April 3. President General Pervez Musharraf had sent the reference containing charges of misconduct and misuse of authority against Justice Chaudhry to the SJC on March 9.

''It was made clear to them that since the matter was sub judice it would be highly inappropriate for anyone to comment on it,'' Ms Aslam said adding the EU Troika representatives were reminded that their concern was out of place as the government was fully committed to the freedom of expression, civil rights and respect for judiciary.

UNI