President of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, who led the rally outside the Parliament House, rejected government’s move to invite judges to take fresh oath after reappointment though with previous seniority.

He said the government action is illegal and can be challenged by new judges who claim to be senior to the reappointed judges under the constitution.

He said the lawyers would also not accept reinstatement of judges without Justice Iftikhar. But the government said it recognised only current chief justice Hameed Dogar as legitimate head of the Supreme Court.

Emphasising that there could not be two chief justices of the Supreme Court. Information Minister Sherry Rehman said Justice Dogar is the chief justice of entire Pakistan and not that of Asif Zardari as the lawyers are depicting him.

Attorney-General Latif Khosa said Zardari does not want to restore the chief justice. However, if he is invited to take fresh oath, he can work under Dogar and his seniority cannot be restored.

He said it will be up to the government to invite any number of the deposed judges to take oath. Those who are not called or decline to take oath would be regarded as retired, he added.

Naek, talking to reporters outside the Parliament House, urged lawyers to terminate their agitation and let judges to take fresh oath.

He said the government has extended old perks and seniority to all those who have agreed to take fresh oath. Aitzaz termed the invitation to fresh oath as imposition of a civilianPCOsimilar to the one imposed by Gen.Musharraf and Gen. Zia. “this is outrageous and unacceptable,” he said adding that this is a device to purge the judiciary and make it subordinate to the wishes of the executive.

Lawyers raised slogans against PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari holding him responsible for blocking the restoration of deposed judges.