By DPA
Islamabad : A 13-member bench of Pakistan's Supreme Court hit out Monday at "scandalous" documents presented before it to justify President Pervez Musharraf's suspension of the top judge in March.
The court took strong exception to the controversial documents after suspended chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry's lead counsel drew its attention to what was termed the "abusive content" and some photographs.
Orders were passed to the president's counsels to present before the apex court the person who photographed the evidence, amid arguments that intelligence personnel were spying on the court and the judiciary.
The bench directed the chief of the Intelligence Bureau, a civil security agency, to sweep the courtroom and residences of judges in a week's time and remove any surveillance equipment and tapping devices.
Security officials were also barred from attending court proceedings and acquiring official records of proceedings.
Justice Kalil-ur-Rehman Ramdey, who was heading the Supreme Court bench, directed the state to deposit 100,000 rupees (1,645 dollars) for presenting the scandalous documents that he said maligned the judiciary and even the president.
Chaudhry has moved the apex court against his suspension and initial adjudication by a five-member panel of senior judges.
Supporters of Chaudhry claim that he was removed for his judicial activism and possible challenge to the president's controversial re- election expected by autumn.
But Musharraf argues that he was obliged to proceed against the judge on the complaints raised by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
Chaudhry's removal also served as a rallying point for the opposition parties that are seeking end to Musharraf's government followed by countrywide elections.