Chaudhry, 7 other Pak judges held

Pakistan Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and seven other judges of the SC were on Saturday taken into custody after declaration of a state of emergency.

Pakistan Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and seven other judges of the Supreme Court were on Saturday taken into custody after they termed as unconstitutional President Pervez Musharraf's declaration of a state of emergency, a highly placed official told IANS.

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The official said the step followed soon after the state-run Pakistan Television announced imposition of emergency by Chief of Army Staff General Musharraf.

"Eight judges including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry were taken into custody and taken to an unknown place from the Supreme Court building after they met taking a suo motu notice of the announcement and declared the emergency as illegal and unconstitutional," said the official on condition of anonymity.

He said that earlier at 5.30 pm all Supreme Court judges were served a two-line notice in their respective names saying their services were no more required by the government. He said that the ministry of law issued the order restraining the judges.

Army vehicles were seen all over the capital city, especially on the Constitution Avenue where major government buildings including those of the Supreme Court, the parliament and the Prime Minister's Secretariat are situated.

All entry points to Islamabad were heavily guarded and only local residents were being allowed to enter the city after showing their identity cards.