Karachi, Nov 8 : Retired Supreme Court Justice Wajihuddin Ahmed has said that the interim order passed by a 11 judge bench of the apex court on his petition against President Pervez Musharraf’s nomination papers, is still valid.

He further said that the present bench that took oath under the Provisional Constitutional Order (PCO) could not vacate such an order.

Justice Wajihuddin expressed fears that the government might take up the matter before the newly constituted Supreme Court bench and gave disposed in its favour.

On October 5, the apex court granted an interim stay, and directed the Election Commission not to notify the results of the presidential election till it gave its verdict on petitions challenging the eligibility of Musharraf to hold two offices.

The petition was still pending for a ruling when Musharraf declared an emergency on November 3.

To a question about the judges who did not take oath under the PCO, Justice Wajihuddin replied that, in his opinion, those judges who refused the PCO are, in fact, "the judges of the nation."

The News quoted Justice Wajihuddin as saying that he had advised the judges who did not take oath under the PCO to remain firm on their stand.

He also condemned the house arrest of superior courts judges and called for the immediate removal of law-enforcement agencies from outside their residences. (ANI)