ISLAMABAD, 19 March 2007 — The chief justice of Pakistan has been sent on compulsory leave because of allegations against him, a Cabinet minister said yesterday, a day after the president defended his controversial decision to suspend Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
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.
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 on Wednesday.
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.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said yesterday the government respected the judiciary and would defend the constitution but would not allow anyone to politicize the suspension of the chief justice.
Speaking in Swabi in the North West Frontier Province, Aziz said opposition parties would not be allowed to exploit the issue for political gains.
The president has sent the reference against the chief justice after receiving numerous complaints against him, the prime minister added.
