QUETTA, May 1: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry said on Tuesday that three judges who were part of the bench that heard the contempt case against the prime minister would not be available if a review petition came up.

Therefore, he added, two ad hocjudges and an additional judge would have to be appointed in the apex court to ensure that a nine-member bench heard the appeal.

Speaking at the inauguration of a new building of the Balochistan High Court`s bench in Sibi on Tuesday, he said since a seven-member bench had heard the contempt case, a nine-member bench was necessary for the review petition.

Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry did not identify the three judges who would not be `available` nor did he specify the reason.

`At present, only six judges are available and in this situation we will have to induct three more judges to form a nine-member bench to conduct hearing if the government files an appeal,` the CJP said.

He said that under Articles 181 and 182 of the Constitution, additional and ad hoc judges could be inducted to constitute a big bench, if required.

Earlier, the chief justice inaugurated the premises ofthe Sibi circuit bench and planted a sapling.

Hundreds of lawyers from Quetta, Sibi and Nasirabad divisions attended the function.

Theyhosted aluncheonfor the chief justice and other judges.

Several delegations of bar associations from Nasirabad, Sibi, Dera Allahyar, Dera Murad Jamali, Usta Mohammad and Dera Bugticalled on the chief justice in Sibi.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry advised them to play their role in swift and smooth dispensation of justice, saying that it was their responsibility to continue their struggle for securing and protecting rights of the downtrodden.

He expressed the hope that the Sibi circuit bench would improve access to justice.