By DPA,
Islamabad : Pakistan’s Supreme Judicial Council Wednesday resumed hearing abuse of office charges against suspended chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry under tight security following the recent bombing aimed at the interior minister.
Police sealed off the area around the Supreme Court where hundreds of protesting lawyers and opposition supporters had gathered during previous hearings.
In a statement issued to media, opposition leaders vowed to demonstrate again outside the court building despite cordons erected by police, Geo TV reported.
Cities in Pakistan have been on heightened alert since a suicide bomber killed himself and 28 people at a political rally in the town of Charsadda Friday. Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao narrowly survived the attack that was seen to have been carried out by tribal militants.
Police check-posts were also established on roads leading to Islamabad from outlying towns and convoys of lawyers and political workers were being stopped.
Chaudhry’s suspension by President Pervez Musharraf on March 9 sparked successive rallies and disturbances and has posed a growing challenge to the military leader’s authority.