Chowrangi

A 13-member full court bench of Supreme Court of Pakistan declared the decision of suspension of Chief Justice of Pakistan Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry as unconstitutional and restored him on his designation. The Supreme Court judges ruled by 10 to 3 to reinstate him, and quashed all charges against him.

On this occasion, special security arrangements were made outside the Supreme Court by posting heavy contingents of police.

Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was suspended by Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf on March 9th, 2007. He had challenged Musharraf’s decision to suspend him. The lead counsel for the chief justice Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan had filed a petition against presidential reference under article 184-III of constitution. Hearing of his case in the Supreme Court was started on April 18.

Aitzaz Ahsan had completed his arguments during the hearing today after which head of a 13-member full court bench of Supreme Court Justice Khalilur Rahman Ramday announced the brief verdict.

The 13-member full court headed by Justice Khalilur Rahman Ramday, comprising of Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokhar, Justice Mian Shakirullah Jan, Justice M Javed Buttar, Justice Tassadduq Hussain Jillani, Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad, Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed, Justice Ch Ijaz Ahmed, Justice Syed Jamshed Ali, Justice Hamid Ali Mirza and Justice Ghulam Rabbani.

It has yet to be seen how Musharraf takes this decision. One assumption is that he will put the blame on Prime Minister Shoukat Aziz for forwarding ‘unconstitutional’ reference. By taking Shoukat’s scalp Musharraf will try to prove his innocence. If this will happen then there will be another drama of caretaker Prime Minister for which the candidates range from Mushahid Hussain Sayed to Maulana Fazl ur Rehman. Shoukat Aziz has already appointed two of his best mates as Auditor General of Pakistan and Chairman NAB so he does not have to worry about accountability cases afterwards.

Other posts by Kashif Aziz

• Urgently Wanted : Federal Ministers - November 19th, 2008
• GEO TV Transmission blocked in Karachi? - November 17th, 2008
• American meat exporters using fradulent halal certificates - November 14th, 2008
• The case of Khanani and Kalia - November 10th, 2008
• Alcohol Exports Bring $220 Million To Pakistan - November 9th, 2008
• Open Letter of Appreciation to Government of Pakistan - November 5th, 2008
• Earthquake Strikes in Balochistan: More than 250 dead, 20,000 displaced - October 30th, 2008
• Pity the Nation - October 26th, 2008
• Lab Pay Aati Hai Dua .. Ban Kay Tamanna Meri - October 16th, 2008
• Predictions of the Century: The Fate of Sarah Palin, and Asif Ali Zardari and United States of America - October 12th, 2008