Geo436.com blog: 17-judge bench formed to take up reports on Executive Order

Geo436 ISLAMABAD: All 17 judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry held an important meeting here at the Supreme Court late Thursday night, Geo News reported.

The meeting passed an order which said that a 17-judge larger bench has been constituted to take up Friday morning reports aired by some TV channels including Geo TV regarding government's alleged intention to withdraw executive order of March 16, 2009 through which Chief Justice of Pakistan and other deposed judges were restored.

Notice has been issued to the Attorney General of Pakistan for tomorrow's hearing.

The order said that the Supreme Court has already settled the matter of the Executive Order and that the Order cannot be withdrawn.

Procedure for appointment and removal of judges is clearly laid down in the Constitution. The procedure for removal of judges is given in Article 209 of the Constitution, it said.

Earlier on Thursday, Geo TV and other channels carried reports that the government is mulling over withdrawing the notification/executive order of judges restoration.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani later dispelled the reports, saying the news hold no substance.