Pak CJ resumes duties, restores SC registrar

Pakistan's Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry, reinstated by the Supreme Court after his over two-month suspension, has restored the apex court's registrar, who was also removed following the presidential reference against him, in his first order after resuming duties.

Soon after the Supreme Court ruling on Friday, Justice Chaudhry resumed his duties and transferred the present registrar of the Supreme Court Muhammad Ali. He replaced Ali with Faqir Hussain, who was removed after Chaudhry's suspension on March 9.

Another Registrar Hamad Raza, who was also close to Chaudhry, was killed in mysterious circumstances after the judge's suspension.

While Raza's death was termed as a targeted killing by his family, police said he was murdered by dacoits.

Lawyers close to Chaudhry said he would formally start going to office from Monday, which would also be observed as the 'Thanks Giving Day' by the lawyers' organisations all over the country for his reinstatement.

Justice Rana Bhagwandas, who headed the apex court during Chaudhry's suspension period, met the chief justice at his residence and congratulated him on his reinstatement.

Justice Bhagwandas, the only Hindu judge to have risen to the post of the acting chief justice in Pakistan, discussed with Chaudhry matters of mutual interest, media reports in Islamabad said.

Justice Bhagwandas' deft management of crisis and quick decisions to constitute benches to handle Chaudhry's case won praise from the lawyers' community.

Despite heavy pressure on him, Justice Bhagwandas remained non-controversial unlike few other judges, who earned the ire of the legal fraternity for their eagerness to fill the vacuum created by Chaudhry's suspension.

Justice Chaudhry, after hearing the judgment on Saturday, marked his victory by hoisting the national and Supreme Court flags at his official residence in Islamabad and took charge soon after receiving the orders from the court.

Chaudhry, who never directly talks to the media, thanked God for vindicating his honour and reputation.

According to brief accounts published by newspapers in Islamabad quoting his friends, he also thanked the media for supporting him and the lawyers' struggle.

"I can never forget the love shown to me by the people of this country," The News quoted him as saying.

He also reportedly said he was confidant from day one about winning his case.

"Don't you remember that from day one, I have been telling you that my hands are clean; I am innocent; and I did not do anything wrong," Chaudhry said.