The court is considering a complaint from Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, whose refusal to resign has galvanized opposition to the military leader ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections due this year.

The government ousted Chaudhry March 9 after receiving what it said was credible evidence of his misconduct. But the proceedings of a closed-door judicial complaints panel examining the allegations are on hold pending a decision on the judge's petition and about 20 others arguing that his removal was unlawful.

Government lawyer Malik Muhammad Qayyum on Monday urged the court to reconvene the five-judge panel, known as the Supreme Judicial Council, arguing that it was a full court able to deal with any defence motions.

"Therefore, no other constitutional court can interfere with its proceedings or assume jurisdiction" of the matter before it, Qayyum said.

However, presiding Judge Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday, said that if the council was no different from a court, there was no reason for the authors of Pakistan's constitution to create it.