By KUNA
Islamabad : The government has issued “retirement notices” to 37 judges who refused to approve President Musharrafs emergency rule without after-retirements benefits and ordered them to evacuate official residences immediately.
The law ministry has issued retirement notices to 13 Supreme Court judges and 24 High Court judges of Sindh, Punjab and NWFP provinces, Attorney General Malik Muhammad Qayyum told newsmen on Wednesday.
According to ministry sources, the forcefully retired judges have been denied all post-retirement benefits including pension. They said they also have been ordered to evacuate their official residences within two days of notice.
When contacted the Attorney General without elaborating further said that the retiring judges were not entitled to post-retirement benefits.
He said the notices were the completion of formal proceedings, adding that the services of these judges were terminated the moment they refused to take fresh oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO).
A large number of Police has been deployed outside the official residences of all retired judges for evacuation.
Hundreds of human rights activists, members of civilian societies Tuesday gathered outside the house of Justice (R) Shahid Siddiuqe, as police reached their to forcefully evacuate the house in eastern Lahore city. However, the operation till midnight could not be launched due to the resistance showed by protestors.
Also Shahid Siddique was rushed to hospital Wednesday morning before dawn after he had a heart stroke.
For the first time in the history of Pakistan, 60 judges have refused to approve the military-led emergency rule in the country. President Musharraf in his capacity of army chief proclaimed state of emergency on Nov 3rd due to worsening security situation and rising interference of judiciary into executive affairs.