November 14, 2007	Wednesday	Ziqa’ad 03, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Nov 13: Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar on Tuesday constituted a 10-member bench of the apex court to hear from Wednesday two petitions challenging the proclamation of emergency.

The bench includes Justice Mohammad Akhtar Shabbir and Justice Zia Pervez, who took the oath under the Provisional Constitution Order on Tuesday, taking the number of Supreme Court judges to eleven. Other jud-ges on the bench are Chief Justice Dogar, Justice Mohammad Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Faqir Mohammad Khokhar, Justice M. Javed Buttar, Justice Ijazul Hassan, Justice Mohammad Qaim Jan Khan, Justice Mosa K. Leghari and Justice Ch. Ijaz Yousaf.

The 10-member full court has been constituted because Justice Saiyed Saeed Ashhad is on medical leave.

The Supreme Court has issued notices to the federation and other respondents. Attorney General Malik Qayyum has been asked to assist the court in the case.

The petitions challenging the proclamation of emergency, PCO and imposition of curbs on the media have been filed by former provincial minister Tikka Iqbal Mohammad Khan and Watan Party chief Barrister Zafarullah Khan.

An eight-member bench had initiated proceedings in the case on Monday.