Stop proceedings against CJ: Pak SC

New Delhi: The Pakistan Supreme Court has directed the Supreme Judicial Council to stop all proceedings against the sacked chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, till it comes up with a decision in this case.

The Supreme Judicial Council heard the case on Monday. After Chaudhry arrived in Lahore, to a rousing reception on Sunday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said that the possibility of imposing an emergency in the country can’t be ruled out.

His remarks follow massive public receptions accorded to Chaudhry while he was on his way to Lahore to attend a lawyers' convention.

The statement comes amid growing support for suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Aziz, whose reference of allegations of misconduct and misuse of authority against Chaudhry to President Pervez Musharraf has caused the biggest ever-political crisis for the military ruler, did not explain provisions of the Constitution under which the government may clamp the emergency.

Speaking to CNN-IBN, Geo TV reporter Abdul Qayuum Siddiqui said, “This decision is not in favour of Pakistan President Preverz Musharraf.”

“There is a meeting in the Prime Minister house to discuss the political fallout. This is not a victory of Musharraf nor is it a victory for the suspended Chief Justice,” Geo TV head Hamid Mir said.

Musharraf suspended Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry on March 9 over unspecified allegations that he had abused his authority and now faces a growing current of public resentment over the army’s dominant role in Pakistan.

On the ongoing turmoil over the suspension of Chaudhry, former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said, “The judicial crisis has touched raw nerve which has shown how deep-seeded the frustration within Pakistan is. So, I believe it's important for all of us who want a stable Pakistan to work for a transition to democracy, to prevent extremists tomorrow taking advantage of the frustration that exists in the streets of Pakistan."

Earlier, the Pakistan Government also banned a popular television talk show run by the country's biggest media network, Geo, which gave extensive coverage of the events that followed the suspension of Chaudhry by President Pervez Musharraf.