Pak Supreme Court directs sitting PCO judges 'not to issue any judicial orders'

Islamabad, Feb 18(ANI): Pakistan's Supreme Court has directed the sitting judges who took oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) not to issue any judicial orders.

The concerned judges are facing contempt charges for taking oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) in defiance of a restraining order issued by a seven-judge bench on November 3, 2007, moments after the proclamation of emergency by the then Pakistan ruler Pervez Musharraf.

During a hearing of the PCO judges' case on Friday, the apex court ruled that any orders issued by these judges would have no constitutional standing, the Dawn reports.

The Supreme Court said in its ruling that it would take all necessary steps to safeguard the country's judicial system.

The ruling further stated that the concerned judges would be formally indicted for contempt of court on February 21.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry remarked that the judges had taken oath under the PCO many times, but the ruling against it came only once. (ANI)