Three deposed apex court judges take fresh oath

"We are not creating hurdles in the reinstatement of deposed judges and restoring the judges after the resignation of former president Musharraf," the Law Minister maintained.

Naek claimed credit for PPP government that it had fulfilled its promise it had made with the people.

Legal experts say the recent reappointments in the apex court in furtherance of the moves at the High Courts of Lahore, Sindh and Peshawar is a major blow to deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and that portion of lawyers movement which is led by Aitzaz Ahsan.

"Though the moral position of Iftikhar Chaudhry remains high but his support among the judges and lawyers is falling down rapidly due to hectic lobbying of Farook H Naek, Attorney General Latif Khosa and other PPP lawyers", said one of the experts.

Law Ministry officials also said that there might be another oath-taking at the apex court in the next week where more deposed judges could take oath.

Chances for return of Justice Nasirul Mulk, Justice Chaudhry Ejaz Ahmed, Justice Justice Falak Sher, Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed are high, an official privy to the development, said.

He was, however, less optimistic about the return of Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday, Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza and Justice Raja Fayyaz Ahmed as the chances for their comeback were being described as "thin".

"Government considers Justice Ramday too hot to handle while Raja Fayyaz is a close relative of Iftikhar Chaudhry", the official believed.

Regarding Justice Sardar Muhammad Raza Khan, he said there was a question of seniority involved.

Two other judges who were deposed on November 3 last year, Justice Rana Bhagwandas and Justice Javed Iqbal are already discarded from the list of the possible returnees.

Bhagwandas has already retired after attaining the age of superannuation while Javed Iqbal had accepted a government job, shortly after being deposed.

Five judges of the apex court had taken oath under Musharraf's PCO in November last year. They were Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokar, Justice M Javed Buttar, Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbaasi and Justice Syed Saeed Ashad. Justice Abbasi retired from office in July this year after attaining the age of superannuation.

Former SCBA President and key leader of the lawyers' movement, Justice (Retd) Tariq Mehmood has criticized the government for restoring the judges through re-appointment.

He demanded that all the deposed judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, should be restored forthwith.

Meanwhile, three deposed judges of Peshawar High Court including Chief Justice Tariq Pervez Khan were sworn in to their offices on Friday.

The Chief Justice took oath of his office Friday noon at Governor House while the two other judges were administered oath of their offices at 10 PM by Chief Justice Tariq Pervez Khan at the Peshawar High Court building.