LHC summons Justices Iftikhar, Bhagwandas.

LHC summons Justices Iftikhar, Bhagwandas
By Munawer Azeem
ISLAMABAD, Dec 11: Justice Abdul Shakoor Paracha of the Rawalpindi Bench of Lahore High Court has summoned Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and Justice Rana Bhagwandas to appear before him in person to answer why were they illegally occupying official residences.The notices are likely to be delivered and hearing date fixed on Wednesday.Moulvi Iqbal Haider had filed a petition on December 8, stating that “Justice (retired) Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, ex-chief justice of Pakistan, and Justice (retired) Rana Bhagwandas, judge, Supreme Court of Pakistan,” who had retired after the promulgation of Provisional Constitution Order were ‘illegally occupying’ official residencies.The petition said that even after the promulgation of the PCO they had been claiming that they were still holding their offices and occupying official accommodation.It said they were ‘liable to be dispossessed’ but the housing and works secretary and the Islamabad inspector general of police had failed to evict them.The court, which had heard the arguments of Mr Haider’s counsel Qari Shahryar on Monday, summoned the judges on Tuesday.The counsel will collect the notices from the court on Wednesday and serve them on the judges.On December 5, a similar petition had been submitted in the court of additional sessions judge of Islamabad Sardar Tahir Sabir.The judge heard the arguments of petitioner’s counsel Mohammad Ali, Zahoor Ahmad and Shahjahan Durrani on December 6 and dismissed the petition on Tuesday.A large number of lawyers of Islamabad and Rawalpindi bar associations staged a protest against Mr Haider. They gathered in front of Qazi Shahryar’s office at the Islamabad District and Sessions Court and chanted slogans against the petitioner and the counsel.