Pak court official slain for his ties to chief judge, lawyers say

The claim came as Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry appeared at the Supreme Court to challenge his removal by Pakistan's military ruler President Pervez Musharraf in a row that has triggered deadly protests.

Supreme Court deputy registrar Syed Hamad Raza, 37, who was brought to the court by Chaudhry in 2005 and served as his personal assistant, was killed by gunmen at dawn on Monday.

"Raza's murder was a targeted killing. It appears to be linked to the case," Chaudhry's main lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan told the court.

"He was under pressure from various government agencies."

Raza's family allege that he was deliberately assassinated, and his widow was quoted in newspapers Tuesday as saying that he had been detained twice by intelligence agencies.

"The officer was under immense pressure to stand in the witness box against the chief justice," The News daily said, quoting sources close to the Supreme Court.

Investigators initially said they suspected Raza had died in a robbery, but Islamabad's police chief admitted Tuesday they still have no solid lead.

"There have been no arrests so far, investigations are continuing. We are aware the family is saying he died in a targeted killing and we are looking at this with a very open mind," said the chief, also called Iftikhar Chaudhry.

He said police were not aware if Raza had been under threat or was facing pressure from any quarter.

The presiding judge hearing Chaudhry's appeal against misconduct charges, Khalilur Rehman Ramday, said the court had already taken notice of the murder, meaning that it can ask police and officials for reports.

"He (Hamad) was a wonderful boy... It is our belief that such an atrocity will not go unpunished. We shall do what can possibly be done by us," Ramday said.

Opponents say Musharraf dismissed Chaudhry to ensure a pliant judiciary in case of legal challenges against his intention to seek another five-year term as president.