Pak govt to file new reference against CJ Chaudhry

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Islamabad, June 11 (UNI) Pakistan's suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry may face a new reference for misconduct, a move bitterly criticised by his lawyers as an attempt reflecting ''bad intentions'' of the government.

''A new reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is ready and it will be filed at an appropriate time, if needed,'' Pakistan's Federal Minister for Law Muhammad Wasi Zafar said.

Dawn newspaper quoted Zafar as saying that the new reference was related to activities of the Chief Justice since the filing of the first reference on March 9, and the 'facts' contained in the three affidavits submitted by the intelligence chiefs in the Supreme Court last Friday.

The decision to file a new reference in no way meant the first reference was weak, he said, adding that the new reference had been formulated by his ministry and was being studied by legal experts.

A summary of the reference would be sent to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz after the vetting.

He asserted that neither the first reference nor the second one was based on ill-intentions.

However, Aitzaz Ahsan, head counsel for the chief justice today said that any new reference would reflect government's mala fide intentions and further prove its failure to fulfill its bad designs from the first reference of March 9.

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf had suspended Justice Chaudhry for misuse of powers and sent a reference against him to the Supreme Judicial Council, a move that triggered violent protests and plunged the country into a political crisis.

In a related development, the Supreme Court hearing Justice Chaudhry's case began regular hearing of his petition challenging his own suspension and formation of the SJC.

''We will announce decision on maintainability of the petition after hearing merits of the case,'' presiding judge Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday said.

Observers said the court's decision to begin regular hearing is a major defeat for the government, which was all out for rejection of Justice Chaudhry's petition after the maintainability stage.

UNI

For Daily Alerts
Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
X