Pakistan Names New Chief Justice
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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A new chief justice was sworn in Wednesday to try to unite a Pakistani Supreme Court shattered by bitter judicial and political wrangling.
Ajmal Mian, the most senior justice, took the oath of office in a ceremony at the grand marble courthouse attended by 14 other justices, dozens of legislators and the governors of Pakistan’s four provinces.
The only justice absent was Sajjad Ali Shah. He was removed as chief justice Tuesday after a dispute with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, whom he has sought to have tried for corruption and contempt of court.
His removal prompted the resignation Tuesday of President Farooq Leghari, who had sided with Shah in his feud with the premier.
Sharif accused both Leghari and Shah of trying to undermine his government. Leghari said Sharif’s administration was a “dismal failure,” and Shah accused the prime minister of orchestrating a mutiny on the Supreme Court bench.
In the end, 10 of the 17 justices on the Supreme Court sided with the prime minister.
The dispute began several months ago over the appointment of five new judges to the bench, expanding it to 17.
Sharif preferred a smaller bench. Shah eventually won--but not before he resurrected corruption charges against Sharif and eventually charged him with contempt.
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