Conflict of interest: Pak top judge de-links from SC cases

Pakistan’s Supreme Court chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry has disassociated himself from a bench hearing cases against members of the superior judiciary who endorsed the emergency of 2007 after suggestions of a conflict of interest.

Chaudhry has also disassociated himself from a bench hearing a case of alleged corruption involving former attorney general Latif Khosa, who was recently removed from his post by prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.      

Reports had suggested that Chaudhry’s involvement in both these cases could lead to conflict of interest. During a recent hear in the apex court, Khosa had accused Chaudhry of having him removed from the post of attorney general and doing nothing when he (Khosa) was insulted by lawyers during a public gathering in Lahore.  

Close on the heels of a judgement that declared the 2007 emergency imposed by former President Pervez Musharraf as unconstitutional and illegal, the apex court issued contempt of court notices to 26 judges of the Supreme Court and high courts who had endorsed the measure.      

Thirteen of these judges have offered an unconditional apology to the Supreme Court while former Chief Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar, who was sworn in by Musharraf, has challenged the contempt of court notice issued to him.      

Chaudhry has formed a five-member bench headed by Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday to hear the cases against the judges and Khosa. The case against the judges will come up on November 2 while the one against Khosa will be taken up on November 6.