September 06, 2008	Saturday	Ramazan 05, 1429

PESHAWAR, Sept 5: Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Tariq Pervez Khan and two other judges took a fresh oath on Friday after the federal government issued notifications of their reappointment.

However, Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan refused to take a fresh oath, saying “my conscience doesn’t allow me to do so”.The judges were sacked after they refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitution Order enforced by former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf on Nov 3 last year.

Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani administered the oath to Justice Tariq Pervez at a ceremony at the Governor’s House.

Later in the night, Justice Tariq Pervez administered the oath to Justice Shahjehan Khan Yousafzai and Justice Dost Mohammad Khan in the high court.

“I thank all those who struggled for us and helped our restoration to our constitutional position,” Justice Tariq said.

Although the government has mentioned the word ‘reappointment’ in the notifications, the judges have been given the seniority they held on Nov 2 last year.

The ceremony at the Governor’s House was attended Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti, provincial ministers Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Raheemdad Khan, Syed Aqil Shah, Barrister Arshad Abdullah and Sher Azam Khan, provincial police chief Malik Naveed, PHC registrar Hayat Ali Shah and senior judges of the high court, including Justice Jehanzeb Raheem and Justice Hamid Farooq Durrani.

Justice Shahjehan Khan and Justice Dost Mohammad Khan were also present.

The four deposed judges were the senior-most among the sitting judges. With the induction of the three judges, the number of judges has increased to 12 against the sanctioned strength of 15.

Chief Justice Tariq Pervez Khan is due to retire on Feb 14, 2010, and Justice Shahejhan and Justice Dost Mohammad would attain superannuation on Feb 4, 2012, and Mar 19, 2015, respectively.

Under normal circumstances, Justice Ijaz Afzal Khan would have retired on July 5, 2015.