Appointment of PCO judges challenged in SC.

ISLAMABAD, 27 April, 2009 (Balochistan Times) -- Lahore Bar Association (LBA) has challenged the appointment of PCO Judges including former Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar into Supreme Court. LBA also requested to send the matter into Supreme Judicial Council, declare the verdict of Iqbal Tikka Case and the increase in the strength of judges through Finance Bill invalid. President LBA Rana Zia Abdul Rehman has filed the petition through Hamid Khan Advocate and made the federation as party. The petition contended that former President Pervez Musharraf suspended Chief Justice of Pakistan and other judges and put them under house arrest unconstitutionally on November 3, 2007. It may be recalled that Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while heading a 7-member bench declared the suspension of the constitution and imposition of emergency unconstitutional, however, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar covered legal status to unconstitutional steps of Pervez Musharraf. These judges also had taken oath under PCO and taken steps against judicial verdict of November 3 and therefore, committed contempt of court. The petition further said that the government by restoring CJP Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and other deposed judges accepted that Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was the Chief Justice since November 3 and there was no legal status of duration of Abdul Hameed Dogar as CJP. The petition while requested the dismissal of PCO Judges demanded the appointment of judges according to the constitution on these vacant seats.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)