Lahore, Mar.10 : Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said onSaturday that the government's decision to sack Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftakar Muhammad Choudhary was lawful and in accordance with the Constitution.

Interacting with newsmen at the Governor's House here, he said the matter would now be addressed by the Supreme Judicial Council.

Choudhary was sacked by President Pervez Musharraf on charges of "misconduct and misuse" of authority.

Justice Javed Iqbal was sworn-in as the acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, although Justice Bhagwan Das, the only Hindu on the Pakistan apex court bench, is the second senior-most judge after Choudhary, who had held the position since 2005.

Chief Justice Choudhary was reportedly called for discussions by Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and confronted with charges to which he could not give satisfactory replies, an official announcement said.

"Musharraf on the advice of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has sent a reference to the Supreme Judicial Council against the Chief Justice of Pakistan after receiving numerous complaints and serious allegations for misconduct, misuse of authority and actions prejudicial to the dignity of office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. It is confirmed. The President has taken the action after numerous complaints and having personally heard the Chief Justice. He has acted under the constitutional requirement," Information Minister Mohammed Ali Durrani said.

Musharraf evoked powers under Article 209 of the Constitution to bring about the charges against Justice Choudhary, the announcement said. Justice Choudhary's term was set to expire in 2013. Justice Iqbal was appointed Chief Justice as the second senior-most judge, Justice Das, was currently touring India, officials said.

Chief Justice Choudhary has been declared non-functional.