Pak SC forms full bench for ex-CJ case

At the same time, however, the government is 8220;seriously8221; considering filing another reference against Chaudhry accusing him of politicising the presidential reference, The News reported. Chaudhry was suspended by Musharraf on March 9, on charges of misconduct and misuse of authority.

The report quoted an unnamed minister as saying that references would also be filed against the judges who had participated in protests against Musharraf.

The bench formed today will decide on the merit of Chaudhry8217;s petition questioning the legality of Musharraf8217;s allegations and his suspension, and the competence of the Supreme Judicial Council SJC headed by Das.

Das, the only Hindu judge in Pakistan to have risen to the top post in the apex court, has left himself and judges Javed Iqbal and Hamid Dogar out of this bench. Chaudhry8217;s lawyers had objected to their inclusion saying they are part of the SJC, whose legality has been challenged.

The acting CJ, however, ignored objections raised by Chaudhry8217;s counsel about two more judges, Nawaz Abbasi and Faqir Muhammad Khokhar, in the bench.Chaudhry8217;s lawyers alleged that two were seen having lunch with government counsel Shafuddin Pirzada, which was highlighted by some papers here.

The apex court had yesterday stayed proceedings against Chaudhry before the SJC and directed that the case should be heard by the full court.