Larger bench formed to hear Pak Justice petition

Islamabad, Apr 28: Pakistan's Acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas has formed a five-member larger bench of the apex court for hearing suspended top judge Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry's petition.

''Justice M Javed Batar will head the Bench, which will comprise Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Raja Muhammad Fayyaz, Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Ijaz and Justice Hamid Ali Mirza,'' Pakistan's private Geo TV reported today.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had sacked Justice Chaudhry on March 9 for misuse of power and had sent a reference against him in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), a move that triggered countrywide protests by lawyers, Islamists and activists of leading political parties.

Justice Chaudhry, who denies the allegations, had moved the Supreme Court on April 18, challenging his suspension as well as competence and constitutions of the SJC in a petition that raised 132 legal questions of "great public importance".

The council, which has met six times since March 13, is scheduled to hear the reference on May 2.

The larger Bench will also hear over 36 constitutional petitions challenging suspension of Justice Chaudhry and appointment of the Acting Chief Justice, the channel said.

The Bench will hold hearing of the petitions on daily basis from May 7.

UNI