'No move to redefine tenure of Pak CJ'

Islamabad, Oct 15: Pakistan government has rejected as ''baseless, concocted and extremely malicious'' media reports that it was contemplating to take action against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. ''This newspaper has tried to create an impression that the government would take some step against the Chief Justice after Eid,'' an official spokesman said.

''We have all the respect for the judiciary and there is no proposal under consideration to redefine the tenure of employment of the Chief Justice. The government cannot even think of any negative step against judiciary,'' he said.

''The government see no other objective of this propaganda other than to a planned attempt to create an impression of disharmony, uncertainty and confusion among the important state institutions,'' he added.

He said President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have reiterated time and again that the government would respect every decision of the apex court.

''The government fully believes in independence of judiciary and thinks it indispensable for strengthening democracy and democratic norms in the country,'' he added.

Justice Chaudhry was sacked by Gen Musharraf in March, triggering countrywide protests by lawyers. Later, he was reinstated by the Supreme Court.

UNI