Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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December 5, 2007

Pakistan Dismisses Senior Judges Who Opposed Emergency Rule
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1A7A3FE:A6F02AD83191E1603B25AD8517F76E0E70AD7039DCD7B7E4& President Pervez
Musharraf's government law ministry issues notices dismissing 24 high
court judges, three Supreme Court judges, former chief justice





Supreme Court building in Islamabad  (File)Pakistan's government has
formally dismissed more than 20 senior judges who refused to accept
President Pervez Musharraf's emergency rule.

The Pakistani law ministry issued notices Tuesday dismissing 24 high
court judges and three Supreme Court judges, including former chief
justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

The judges had declined to take a new oath of allegiance after Mr.
Musharraf imposed the state of emergency on November 3.

Mr. Musharraf has said judicial interference with the government was
one factor behind his declaration of emergency rule. He has promised
to lift emergency rule on December 16.

Critics of Mr. Musharraf accuse him of using emergency powers to purge
the judiciary of judges who may have overturned his victory in
October's presidential election.



In another development, aides of former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto
and Nawaz Sharif met Tuesday to draw up a list of conditions for
taking part in parliamentary elections called by President Musharraf
for January 8.

Ms. Bhutto's party said one of its key demands is the formation of an
independent election commission to make sure votes are not rigged in
Mr. Musharraf's favor. Mr. Sharif called for the reinstatement of
Supreme Court judges fired under emergency rule.

Also Tuesday, Pakistani authorities in Lahore arrested and released
two U.S. activists from the feminist antiwar group Code Pink who were
in the country to protest emergency rule and restrictions on the
media. The two were ordered to leave the country Wednesday. Some
information for this report was provided by AFP.


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