The move came days before the Supreme Court is expected to decide whether to allow or overturn the March 9 suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, who drew thousands of supporters Sunday in one of a string of pro-democracy rallies.

The judicial misconduct charge withdrawn Monday centred on claims that the judge's verbal orders in some court cases varied from subsequent written orders.

The charge said that large amounts of money were involved in the cases.

"The president and the prime minister have instructed that the paragraphs dealing with the subject be deleted," chief government lawyer Sharifuddin Pirzada told the Supreme Court.

Chaudhry's lawyer, Aitzaz Ahsan, said the move "shows the retreat of the government."

However Musharraf's allegations that Chaudhry abused his position to secure top jobs for his son, privately used official vehicles and spied on other judges still stand.

Chaudhry's defenders say he was ousted because he may have stood in the way of Musharraf's bid to get re-elected by the outgoing parliament this year as president while also staying on as army chief, in defiance of the constitution.

Chaudhry has denied the charges and challenged his suspension.

Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999.