ISLAMABAD, 25 March 2007 — A senior-most Hindu judge was sworn in Karachi yesterday as acting chief justice of Pakistan amid a judicial crisis that has embroiled the government of President Pervez Musharraf.
Rana Bhagwandas, who returned home this week after a private trip to India, replaced Javed Iqbal, another judge who was given the position temporarily after Musharraf removed the Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on March 9 for alleged abuse of authority.
In his brief comments yesterday, Bhagwandas told reporters that any decision on Chaudhry’s case would be taken in accordance with the constitution.
“The Supreme Judicial Council will decide this case on merit, without any favor or ill-will,” he said, adding the “nation will soon hear good news.” He did not elaborate. The council, which handles complaints of wrongdoing in the higher judiciary, can either confirm or throw out the alleged complaints against Chaudhry.
It was scheduled to resume hearing Chaudhry’s case on Wednesday but the hearing was postponed until April 3.
Critics say Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup and serves as both army chief and president, wanted to get rid of the strong-willed Chaudhry ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections to forestall any legal challenges to his rule.
Musharraf denies the charge, and has urged the lawyers to let a five-member panel of the judges of Supreme Judicial Council decide the fate of Chaudhry, who has twice appeared before the council.
