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Pakistan PM vows to free judges Pakistan PM vows to free judges
(30 minutes later)
New Pakistani PM Yusuf Raza Gillani has said he will order the release of all judges detained under emergency rule, minutes after being elected by MPs.New Pakistani PM Yusuf Raza Gillani has said he will order the release of all judges detained under emergency rule, minutes after being elected by MPs.
President Pervez Musharraf sacked dozens of judges in November and former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was among those still held. President Pervez Musharraf in November sacked dozens of judges as the Supreme Court was set to rule on whether his re-election was legal.
Mr Gillani is from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which emerged the main winner of recent elections. Former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was among those still held.
This is the first time in 12 years that the PPP will head the government. Mr Gillani's Pakistan People's Party heads a government for the first time in 12 years after February's elections.
It will lead a coalition that has a substantial majority.It will lead a coalition that has a substantial majority.
UN probeUN probe
Mr Gillani won the parliamentary vote by 264 votes to the 42 of Musharraf ally Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.Mr Gillani won the parliamentary vote by 264 votes to the 42 of Musharraf ally Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.
If you want this country to work, the parliament must be supreme Yusuf Raza Gillani Profile: Yusuf Raza GillaniSend us your comments
Mr Gillani made two key pledges in his speech following his election.Mr Gillani made two key pledges in his speech following his election.
The first was to demand "the immediate release of all the arrested judges", sparking cheers from most of the gathered MPs.The first was to demand "the immediate release of all the arrested judges", sparking cheers from most of the gathered MPs.
If you want this country to work, the parliament must be supreme Yusuf Raza Gillani class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7310028.stm">Profile: Yusuf Raza Gillani Police have already removed barbed wire from outside Mr Chaudhry's home in Islamabad, where he has been under house arrest.
Mr Musharraf had sacked the judges because the Supreme Court was set to rule on whether his re-election as president was legal. Most have since been freed from detention.
Police have removed barbed wire from outside Mr Chaudhry's home in Islamabad, where he has been under house arrest.
Mr Chaudhry later appeared on his balcony to wave to hundreds of supporters. It was his first public appearance for four months.Mr Chaudhry later appeared on his balcony to wave to hundreds of supporters. It was his first public appearance for four months.
He thanked his "fellow judges and the entire nation".
Mr Musharraf (R) was badly weakened by the February elections
"I have no words to express my gratitude to the way you have struggled... to reach this day," he said.
It is not clear exactly how many judges are held or when they might be freed.
However, correspondents say the PM should have the power to free those such as Mr Chaudhry who were held under executive rather than court orders.
Mr Gillani's second pledge was to seek a resolution calling for a UN investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.Mr Gillani's second pledge was to seek a resolution calling for a UN investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
"Democracy has been revived due to the sacrifice of Benazir Bhutto," Mr Gillani said."Democracy has been revived due to the sacrifice of Benazir Bhutto," Mr Gillani said.
He urged MPs to help him in his tasks.He urged MPs to help him in his tasks.
"My past experience in parliament has shown me that if you want this country to work, the parliament must be supreme, constitution must be sacred and rule of law enforced.""My past experience in parliament has shown me that if you want this country to work, the parliament must be supreme, constitution must be sacred and rule of law enforced."
Daunting taskDaunting task
The PPP nominated Mr Gillani as its candidate at the weekend.The PPP nominated Mr Gillani as its candidate at the weekend.
Mr Musharraf (R) was badly weakened by the February elections
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says Mr Gillani is much admired within the PPP. He resisted pressure from President Musharraf to desert the party, refusing to do any deals with him.The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says Mr Gillani is much admired within the PPP. He resisted pressure from President Musharraf to desert the party, refusing to do any deals with him.
Ms Bhutto's widower is still the PPP's most powerful figure, say analysts
The former parliamentary Speaker went to jail in 2001, serving five years following a conviction over illegal government appointments.The former parliamentary Speaker went to jail in 2001, serving five years following a conviction over illegal government appointments.
The sentence was passed by an anti-corruption court formed by President Musharraf as part of what he termed measures to cleanse politics.The sentence was passed by an anti-corruption court formed by President Musharraf as part of what he termed measures to cleanse politics.
His opponents say it was a means of intimidating and coercing their members to join his government.His opponents say it was a means of intimidating and coercing their members to join his government.
Ms Bhutto's widower is still the PPP's most powerful figure, say analysts
Mr Gillani will have the daunting task of holding together a large coalition, tackling Islamic militancy and severe economic problems.Mr Gillani will have the daunting task of holding together a large coalition, tackling Islamic militancy and severe economic problems.
The PPP, which was led by Benazir Bhutto until her assassination in December, emerged as the biggest party in the February elections.The PPP, which was led by Benazir Bhutto until her assassination in December, emerged as the biggest party in the February elections.
It is now headed by her widower, Asif Ali Zardari.It is now headed by her widower, Asif Ali Zardari.
On Monday he was quoted in The News newspaper as saying that Mr Gillani would serve a full five-year term as prime minister.On Monday he was quoted in The News newspaper as saying that Mr Gillani would serve a full five-year term as prime minister.
There has been widespread speculation that Mr Zardari only wants the next prime minister to hold the post on an interim basis while Mr Zardari takes the necessary steps to make himself eligible to become prime minister.There has been widespread speculation that Mr Zardari only wants the next prime minister to hold the post on an interim basis while Mr Zardari takes the necessary steps to make himself eligible to become prime minister.
That would include Mr Zardari winning a parliamentary seat in a by-election.That would include Mr Zardari winning a parliamentary seat in a by-election.