Falak Sher (justice) Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui, by virtue of being the longest serving justice on the Supreme Court bench at the time, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was appointed as next Chief Justice. Justice Iftikhar was appointed a justice of High Court of Balochistan in 1999 and was elevated to Supreme Court on 4 February 2000. Justice Sher maintained that he was senior to Justice Chaudhry based on their respective elevation to High Courts and should be appointed as Chief Justice of Pakistan. On appointment of Justice Chaudhry as Chief Justice, he petitioned the President of Pakistan on that account for which no
Suspension of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Council Tuesday adjourned hearing of presidential reference against non-functional chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry till 13 April. Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, leading lawyer assisting the non-functional Chief Justice in the reference, gave his arguments for open trial in the SJC proceedings, which were continued for an hour. He argued against in-camera hearing of the reference. Barrister Wasim Sajjad and former minister of law Khalid Ranjha appeared before the SJC on behalf of the government. Attorney General Makhdoom Ali Khan appeared on behalf of the SJC on court notice. The lawyers and opposition parties' leaders and activists gathered in large number outside