Pakistan:Pakistan's government has prepared a new misconduct complaint against the suspended chief judge, the law minister said yesterday, raising the stakes in a three-month-old dispute that has sparked street protests.
President Pervez Musharraf's move to dismiss chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry on accusations of misconduct on March 9th prompted a series of sometimes violent demonstrations by lawyers and opposition political activists.
The protests represent the most serious challenge to Gen Musharraf's authority since he seized power in a 1999 coup, and threatens stability in a nuclear-armed country on the front line of a global anti-terrorism campaign.
Law minister Wasi Zafar said the government had prepared a new complaint, known as a reference, against Mr Chaudhry for activities deemed a violation of a top judge's code of conduct.
"It has been drafted . . . and will have to be filed at an appropriate time," Mr Zafar said, without giving details.
A senior lawyer said the complaint indicated the government was determined to remove the independent-minded Mr Chaudhry, who has denied wrongdoing and refused to resign.
"They are absolutely determined and adamant to get rid of the chief justice," said Akram Sheiqh, a lawyer who supports Mr Chaudhry's cause.
The crisis has erupted in the run-up to elections and analysts believe Gen Musharraf's main motive for seeking to dismiss Mr Chaudhry stemmed from doubts he would be supportive in the event of constitutional challenges to the president's election plan.
Gen Musharraf has said he will seek re-election by the sitting national and provincial assemblies before they are dissolved for a general election around the end of the year.
But he is believed to be reluctant to give up his post of army chief as is constitutionally required.
The street protests have turned into a broad movement for the restoration of democracy.
- (Reuters)