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Wednesday, May 16, 2007
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Two judges to monitor probe into court official's murder

Nirupama Subramanian

The victim had been appointed to Justice Chaudhary's office

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday took suo motu notice of the murder of one of its officials and appointed two judges to monitor the police investigations.

Syed Hamad Amjad Raza was killed at his home early on Monday. Designated additional registrar, he was a civil servant appointed to the office of the ousted Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhary.

Acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas said the two judges would "examine reports, monitor investigations and pass appropriate orders on the judicial side, since the incident relates directly to the court."

A lawyer for Mr. Chaudhary, whose constitutional petition challenging his March 9 ouster is being heard in the Supreme Court, told the court that the murder was linked to the ongoing controversy over the Chief Justice.

Aitzaz Ahsan, who leads the legal team of the Chief Justice, said Mr. Raza's murder was a targeted killing and that he was under pressure to depose from various government agencies.

The News reported that Mr. Raza was getting the "third degree" by agencies that were trying to gather evidence about the alleged misconduct of the Chief Justice.

A full court, reconstituted after the withdrawal by a judge on Monday, began hearing Mr. Chaudhary's petition that challenges the filing of the reference against him, and various issues related to the Constitution, composition and competence of the five-judge panel known as the Supreme Judicial Council to try him.

The proceedings of the Supreme Judicial Council have been stayed while the court hears Mr. Chaudhary's petition. The Supreme Court will hold daily hearings on the petition.

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