(22 Jul 2009)
Islamabad - 22 July 2009
1. Wide exterior of Pakistan Supreme court
2. Pakistani flag
3. Various, people outside Supreme Court
FILE - Islamabad - August 2008
4. Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf inspecting troops
5. Close shot, Musharraf getting into car
Islamabad - 22 July 2009
6. People outside Supreme Court
7. SOUNDBITE: Justice (Retired) Rashid Razvi, Petitioner
"We were of the view that in past when such petitions were filed challenging martial law or imposition of emergency by chief of army staff, never in past notice was issued to those generals. So even in this case, the court was of the view that in order to uphold the principles of natural justice Pervez Musharraf at least should put on notice."
7. Setup shot of Latif Khosa, Attorney General, Pakistan
8. SOUNDBITE: Sardar Latif Khosa, Pakistan Attorney General
"I said it very clearly, my government is committed to democracy, democratic rule and constitutionalism, and we do not accept that the third of November was legally a constitutional operation by General Pervez Musharraf. So we are not defending him."
9. Wide Exterior of Pakistan Supreme court
STORYLINE
Pakistan's top court on Wednesday summoned former President Pervez Musharraf to explain his 2007 firing of several dozen independent-minded judges.
The court notice allows Musharraf to send a lawyer in his place.
The case, brought up in petitions challenging Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule and firing of the judges that year, could lay the groundwork for future action- even a trial - against the one-time military ruler.
It could also rattle Pakistan's political scene at a time when the US wants the nation to focus on fighting al-Qaida and the Taliban along the Afghan border.
Pakistan Attorney General Sardar Latif Khosa confirmed the court order.
He said the federal government would not defend the actions taken on November 3, 2007 by Musharraf who, when faced with growing challenges to his rule, declared a state of emergency, suspended the constitution and dismissed the judges.
Justice (Retired) Rashid Razvi, President of the Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) said the view of the court was that a hearing was necessary "in order to uphold the principles of natural justice".
Musharraf is currently staying in London with his family. He could not immediately be reached for comment.
The next hearing in the case is on July 29.
Wasi Zafar, a law minister during Musharraf's rule, said the retired general could appear before the Supreme Court either through his lawyer or in person.
The former army chief seized power in a 1999 military coup and became a critical, and criticised, US ally following the September 11, 2001 attacks that sparked the American-led invasion of neighbouring Afghanistan.
In early 2007, Musharraf dismissed the Supreme Court's chief justice, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry.
That triggered mass protests led by lawyers that damaged Musharraf's popularity.
The court managed to bring Chaudhry back but, faced with growing rancour, Musharraf declared the emergency, tossing out Chaudhry and around 60 other judges.
That only deepened popular anger against the military ruler.
Under domestic pressure, and prodding from the US, Musharraf lifted the emergency rule after about six weeks, stepped down as army chief, and allowed parliamentary elections to take place the following February.
The elections brought to power his foes, who ultimately pushed him to resign the presidency in August 2008.
But the fate of the judges, especially that of Chaudhry, caused fissures among those who came to power.

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