Three judges of Pakistan's Supreme Court have refused to sit on the bench that is hearing petitions challenging the emergency.

Justices Nawaz Abbasi, Javed Bhuttar and Faqir Khokhar, who were sworn in under the Provisional Constitutional Order after President Pervez Musharraf [Images] imposed emergency on November 3, have declined to be part of the bench, Pakistan's Dawn News channel reported.

No reason was given for their refusal to be part of the bench.

The apex court is hearing two petitions, one filed by a senior Pakistan People's Party leader and the other by the Watan Party, challenging the emergency and the PCO, which suspended the constitution and key fundamental rights.

The strength of the Supreme Court was reduced from 17 to 12 by the government after the emergency. Eleven judges have been sworn in so far.

In the face of judges and lawyers refusing to endorse the emergency, the military regime has had to rope in retired provincial judges to fill in vacancies in the apex court.