Pakistan’s second senior most judge, Justice Rana Bhagwandas, was sworn in as acting chief justice on Saturday, and told reporters that the “nation will soon hear good news”, AP reported. He did not elaborate.He also pledged to decide the presidential reference against the suspended chief justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, on merit. “The presidential reference shall be decided strictly according to the law and the Constitution, with our conscience and without any fear or favour, affection or relevance,” said Justice Baghwandas during a brief chat with reporters after he took oath at the Supreme Court Registry office here.
Justice Bhagwandas said he would look into the suspended CJP’s arguments against the composition of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC). “Then the council will take a decision,” he said. “Let the SJC decide about the presidential reference. The lawyers’ community should wait for the verdict of the council.”