London: Pakistan's top judge Iftikhar M Chaudhry, who was removed from office by President Pervez Musharraf in March but later reinstated by the Supreme Court, is willing to risk his life to uphold the rule of law in the Islamic nation, his family has said. "His new resolve is to go down in history as the best judge Pakistan has ever had, and he is ready to make the ultimate sacrifice to impart justice to everyone," The Sunday Telegraph reported here today, quoting his elder son Arslan as saying.

According to the newspaper, Chaudhury has been living as a partial prisoner in his home just outside Islamabad, venturing out only to attend court or meet fellow judges or lawyes. In the wake of threats to his life, the Chief Justice's family leave their house only rarely, to his regret. "Daddy used to love long walks. But he doesn't go any more because of security concerns," said Arslan.

Chaudhry has recently set up a nine-member panel of judges to begin hearing two constitutional cases against Musharraf, one disputing his right to seek re-election, the other his right to hold dual office. "Either could prevent the dictator from staying in office beyond the next few weeks." Two days back, Musharraf s ruling party put itself on a collision course with the Supreme Court, announcing it had finalised its plans to re-elect him with a vote in the first week of October from the present Assemblies.