ISLAMABAD, March 17: The government on Tuesday notified reinstatement of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and 10 other judges of superior courts through two notifications, erasing lingering doubts about its intention.

A notification issued by the law and justice division said: “Whereas the prime minister of Pakistan was pleased to announce on 16th day of March, 2009, that the deposed judges of the Supreme Court and high courts, in

cluding Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, the deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan, shall be restored to the position they were holding immediately before 3rd day of November, 2007.

“Now, therefore, the president of Pakistan is pleased to restore Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, the deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan, to the position he was holding immediately before 3rd day of November, 2007. Mr Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry will assume office of Chief Justice of Pakistan on 22nd March, 2009, after retirement of Mr Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Chief Justice of Pakistan, on 21st March, 2009.”

Other judges who have been reinstated are Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed and Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmad of the Supreme Court; Justice Khawaja Mohammad Sharif, Justice Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman of the Lahore High Court; Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Maqbool Baqar of the Sindh High Court; and Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan of the Peshawar High Court.

Attorney General Sardar Latif Khosa told journalists that since the judges had been reinstated through an executive order, they would not be required to take a fresh oath.

After the reinstatement, the number of judges in the Supreme Court will increase to 25 from 21. Through a finance bill on June 23, the government had increased the court’s sanctioned strength from 17 to 29.

“All the reinstated judges of the Supreme Court have decided to retake their offices as judges on the day when the chief justice will resume his office,” sources told Dawn.

Justice Iftikhar, who was elevated to the Supreme Court on Feb 4, 2000, will retire on Dec 19, 2013.

Justice Javed Iqbal will complete his tenure as a judge of the Supreme Court on July 31, 2011, Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday will retire on Jan 12, 2010, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed on May 31, 2011, and Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmad on May 4, 2011.

Justice Javed Iqbal had refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO), but accepted a lucrative government position as chairman of the Press Council of Pakistan.

Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday is in Singapore and due to arrive in Lahore on Thursday.

APP adds:

President Asif Ali Zardari signed the notifications earlier in the day.

According to a statement released by the president’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar, all the judges, except Justice Iftikhar, were reinstated with immediate effect.
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