Pakistan emergency judges removed

By Syed Shoaib Hasan BBC News, Islamabad

Mr Musharraf argues his actions were necessary to combat militancy

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari has ordered the suspension of judges appointed under emergency rule in 2007.

The move comes after the Supreme Court ruled that the emergency declared by former President Pervez Musharraf had been illegal and unconstitutional.

The court ruling means 76 judges are barred from carrying out their duties.

A decision on their future will be made by the Supreme Judicial Council, the country's highest judicial regulatory body. Hearings are due next week.

President Musharraf sacked judges who refused to take an oath of loyalty under the 3 November 2007 emergency rule.

They have since been reinstated and include Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

His suspension earlier that year started the protest movement that ended with Mr Musharraf being driven from office.

He eventually had to end emergency rule and hold general elections which led to the defeat of his political allies in February 2008.

Mr Musharraf was finally forced to resign in August 2008. He has argued that his actions were necessary to combat militancy.

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