This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6444355.stm
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan panel quizzes top judge | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Pakistan's top judge is appearing before a closed hearing of senior judges investigating allegations that he misused his authority. | |
| President Pervez Musharraf suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry on Friday. | |
| Lawyers have boycotted courts across Pakistan in protest against what they say is an unlawful suspension. | Lawyers have boycotted courts across Pakistan in protest against what they say is an unlawful suspension. |
| The judge is noted for his firm line on government misdeeds and human rights abuses in the country. | The judge is noted for his firm line on government misdeeds and human rights abuses in the country. |
| Tuesday's proceedings began in confusion when Mr Chaudhry refused to take the official car sent to take him to the hearing at the Supreme Court but started walking there. | |
| He was stopped by police and taken to another official building before being forced into a car and taken to the court buildings. | |
| Some 200 lawyers supporting Mr Chaudhry managed to reach the Supreme Court despite tight security, chanting slogans against the president such as "Go Musharraf, go." | |
| They are also demanding that the hearings be made open to the public. They were later joined by opposition politicians. | |
| Tensions | Tensions |
| On Monday, thousands of lawyers protested against Mr Chaudhry's suspension. | |
| Lawyers in Islamabad carried black flags to courthouses, and hundreds more marched in Lahore, where more than 20 were injured in clashes with police. | |
| Correspondents say many people believe the chief justice was suspended because he took up cases unpopular with the government. | Correspondents say many people believe the chief justice was suspended because he took up cases unpopular with the government. |
| In pictures: Lawyers' protest | In pictures: Lawyers' protest |
| They include investigations into the highly sensitive issue of the disappearance of political activists allegedly detained illegally by the security forces. | They include investigations into the highly sensitive issue of the disappearance of political activists allegedly detained illegally by the security forces. |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the clashes in Lahore reflects growing tension in the country since Gen Musharraf removed the chief justice from his post on Friday. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the clashes in Lahore reflects growing tension in the country since Gen Musharraf removed the chief justice from his post on Friday. |
| The president had received "numerous complaints and serious allegations for misconduct, misuse of authority and actions prejudicial to the dignity of office of the chief justice of Pakistan", the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency reported. | The president had received "numerous complaints and serious allegations for misconduct, misuse of authority and actions prejudicial to the dignity of office of the chief justice of Pakistan", the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency reported. |
| Lawyers, opposition parties, human rights activists and some judges have condemned the move as unconstitutional and a blow to the independence of the judiciary. | Lawyers, opposition parties, human rights activists and some judges have condemned the move as unconstitutional and a blow to the independence of the judiciary. |
| The government has so far not made public details of the allegations. | The government has so far not made public details of the allegations. |
| Our correspondent says the chief justice had an abrasive style and had earlier been publicly criticised by a lawyer for abusing his authority. | Our correspondent says the chief justice had an abrasive style and had earlier been publicly criticised by a lawyer for abusing his authority. |
| But she says many in the legal community believe Iftikhar Chaudhry was dismissed because he took up cases unpopular with the government. | But she says many in the legal community believe Iftikhar Chaudhry was dismissed because he took up cases unpopular with the government. |
| 'Intimidate' | 'Intimidate' |
| Chief among these was a petition to recover missing persons, allegedly abducted by intelligence agencies. He also overturned the recent sale of Pakistan's state-run steel mills. | Chief among these was a petition to recover missing persons, allegedly abducted by intelligence agencies. He also overturned the recent sale of Pakistan's state-run steel mills. |
| The president is also accused of trying to intimidate the judiciary in an election year. | The president is also accused of trying to intimidate the judiciary in an election year. |
| Ikram Chaudhry, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, told the BBC's Urdu service: "General Musharraf is trying to bulldoze the judiciary. He wants to leave no stone unturned." | Ikram Chaudhry, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, told the BBC's Urdu service: "General Musharraf is trying to bulldoze the judiciary. He wants to leave no stone unturned." |
| He said Iftikhar Chaudhry was to all intents and purposes being held under house arrest in Islamabad, with a police guard posted at his residence and the official flag taken down. | He said Iftikhar Chaudhry was to all intents and purposes being held under house arrest in Islamabad, with a police guard posted at his residence and the official flag taken down. |
| Only a few visitors have been allowed in to see Mr Chaudhry since he was suspended. | Only a few visitors have been allowed in to see Mr Chaudhry since he was suspended. |
| The current president of the Supreme Court Bar Association said he had been told by Mr Chaudhry that he would defend himself and would not step down. | The current president of the Supreme Court Bar Association said he had been told by Mr Chaudhry that he would defend himself and would not step down. |