Islamabad: Pakistan's Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry today expanded the bench hearing petitions against Pervez Musharraf's candidature in the October six Presidential poll, which the General swept, by adding one more judge to it.

Justice Javed Buttar is the new addition to the 10-member bench hearing the petitions filed by Wajihuddin Ahmed, a former apex court judge, and PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim against Musharraf's eligibility to contest the election without quitting the post of Army Chief.

The Chief Justice also reshuffled the bench by replacing Justice Nasirul Mulk, who will be away from Pakistan during the time when the case will be heard, with Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmed. The bench will continue to be headed by Justice Javed Iqbal.

Musharraf swept the presidential poll on October six that was boycotted by the opposition but the Supreme Court has ruled that the result of the election cannot be officially notified till it decides on petitions opposing his candidature. The apex court will resume hearing the petitions from October 17.

The military ruler, who has promised to take off his uniform by November 15, has been engaged in a confrontation with the judiciary since he suspended the Chief Justice - who was later reinstated - in March. Musharraf's move sparked widespread protests across the country.