Pakistan's CJ put on leave while complaints are heard

PAKISTAN: The chief judge of Pakistan's Supreme Court has been put on compulsory leave because of allegations against him, a Cabinet minister said, a day after the president defended his controversial decision to remove the judge.

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf has faced a growing crisis since March 9, when he suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry over unspecified allegations that the judge had abused his authority.

Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Wasi Zafar said the measure was taken against Chaudhry under a law requiring judges facing complaints to be sent on leave. "Whenever a reference is pending against any judge, he can be sent on compulsory leave," Zafar said Sunday.

Chaudhry faces proceedings at the Supreme Judicial Council, a top panel of judges that handles complaints of wrongdoing in the higher judiciary. Zafar would not specify what complaints Chaudhry faces, citing the ongoing proceedings at the council, which is scheduled to resume hearings Wednesday.

Chaudhry's removal has angered many lawyers, retired judges and opposition leaders, who consider Musharraf's action an effort to remove a strong-willed judge ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections due within a year. The measure triggered violent protests Friday and Saturday.

Musharraf is likely to seek re-election from the outgoing assembly, and has given no indication that he is willing to accept opposition demands that he give up his post as chief of the army. His stance is likely to draw complaints to the Supreme Court.

Musharraf, addressing a rally in the eastern city of Pakpatan over the weekend, said he had "no personal differences" with Chaudhry, and had acted against the judge after receiving a case against him from the prime minister.

Musharraf's comments came after authorities eased restrictions on Chaudhry and sacked 15 police over an attack on Geo television's offices Friday - apparently over the channel's aggressive coverage of the anti-Musharraf protests.

Police did not prevent people from visiting Chaudhry on Saturday, a government official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. He said Chaudhry was also free to leave his home.

Islamabad, Monday, AP