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Pakistanis
celebrate reinstatement of Chief Justice
Islamabad: Pakistan's government on Monday agreed
to reinstate deposed Iftikhar Chaudhry as chief justice
to defuse a political crisis and end the long march protest
that was threatening to turn into violent confrontation.
Hundreds of jubilant lawyers and activists gathered outside
Chaudhry's Islamabad residence and danced and chanted
"Long live the chief justice". But some were somewhat
skeptical about the decision.
Prime
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's announcement to restore
the judges who were sacked by President Musharraf in 2007
to their respective positions, was greeted with both joy
and celebration since early morning Monday. In an address
to the nation, Gilani said that sacked Chief Justice Iftikhar
Mohammad Chaudhry and other judges who had been sacked
two years ago would assume charge of their respective
offices from March 21 after the retirement of present
incumbent Chief Justice Hamid Dogar. Hundreds gathered
outside Chaudhry's Islamabad residence on Monday after
the government agreed to reinstate him. Officials said
the move was to defuse a political crisis and end a street
agitation that was threatening to turn into violent confrontation.
Chaudhry became a cause celebre after being dismissed
in late 2007 by then-president and army chief General
Pervez Musharraf. A government official was quoted by
a foreign agency as saying that Chaudhry would be restored
and that there would also be a constitutional package.
President Asif Ali Zardari, who was elected by parliament
six months ago, had feared the judge could wage a vendetta
against Musharraf that could also threaten his own position.
His retreat on the issue would raise inevitable question
marks over his future, while it will enhance the reputation
of his chief rival, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Several hundred jubilant lawyers and activists at Chaudhry''s
residence danced and chanted "Long live the chief justice".
Chaudhry refused to vacate his residence after his dismissal
when Musharraf declared emergency rule in a desperate
move to extend his presidency for another term. The political
crisis gripping Pakistan has alarmed the United States
and Britain, which fear any slide into chaos would help
the Taliban and al Qaeda become stronger in Pakistan.
In
New Delhi, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee
today said that India wants a stable democratic government
in Pakistan, which would act as bulwark against terrorism
and extremism. Terming the conflict as Pakistan's internal
affair, Mukherjee said, it is essential for Pakistan to
end its conflict and devote the time and energy in fighting
terrorism to maintain peace and stability in the region.
"But at the same time, it is our interest if there is
a stable democratic government in Pakistan, which acts
as a bulwark against terrorism and extremism. We do hope
the internal confrontation in Pakistan will come to an
end," said Mukherjee. Pakistan Government agreed on Monday
to reinstate Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry as Chief Justice
in order to defuse the political crisis and end the street
agitation which had been turning violent. The political
turmoil in Pakistan was threatening to destabilize the
government on a war path with the opposition leading the
long march on the issue of reinstatement of judges sacked
by the former President Pervez Musharraf in 2007. Opposition
leader Nawaz Sharif had thrown his support behind the
anti-government lawyers' protest campaign that brought
turmoil in Pakistan as the government was struggling to
stem militancy and revive a flagging economy. The political
crisis gripping Pakistan had alarmed the United States
and Britain, which feared that any slide into chaos would
help the Taliban and al Qaeda become stronger in Pakistan.
The United States has welcomed Chaudhry's reinstatement.
- Mar 16, 2009
