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| Pakistan reinstates sacked judge | Pakistan reinstates sacked judge |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Pakistan's government has said a sacked Supreme Court chief justice will be reinstated, prompting the opposition to call off a major rally in the capital. | Pakistan's government has said a sacked Supreme Court chief justice will be reinstated, prompting the opposition to call off a major rally in the capital. |
| Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said Iftikhar Chaudhry would resume his old post later in March. | Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said Iftikhar Chaudhry would resume his old post later in March. |
| Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif had joined campaigning lawyers in demanding the judge's reinstatement. | Opposition leader Nawaz Sharif had joined campaigning lawyers in demanding the judge's reinstatement. |
| Announcing that the march on Islamabad had been called off, Mr Sharif urged supporters to celebrate "with dignity". | Announcing that the march on Islamabad had been called off, Mr Sharif urged supporters to celebrate "with dignity". |
| Mr Gilani said Mr Chaudry would resume his post following the resignation of the current Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar on 21 March. | Mr Gilani said Mr Chaudry would resume his post following the resignation of the current Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar on 21 March. |
| "I announce the restoration of all deposed judges including Mr Iftikhar Chaudhry," PM Yousaf Raza Gilani said. | "I announce the restoration of all deposed judges including Mr Iftikhar Chaudhry," PM Yousaf Raza Gilani said. |
| We have said that we will restore the judges and the independent judiciary and by the grace of Allah we have achieved it Nawaz Sharif | We have said that we will restore the judges and the independent judiciary and by the grace of Allah we have achieved it Nawaz Sharif |
| Mr Chaudhry and 60 other judges were dismissed by Gen Musharraf in 2007. | Mr Chaudhry and 60 other judges were dismissed by Gen Musharraf in 2007. |
| Most have since been reinstated but Mr Chaudhry and a handful have not been allowed to return to their old posts. | Most have since been reinstated but Mr Chaudhry and a handful have not been allowed to return to their old posts. |
| His announcement, broadcast on television, triggered scenes of jubilation from Mr Chaudhry's supporters outside his home in Islamabad. | His announcement, broadcast on television, triggered scenes of jubilation from Mr Chaudhry's supporters outside his home in Islamabad. |
| Mr Gilani also said opposition activists and leaders detained over the last week of mounting political disturbances would be freed and a ban on public demonstrations in the capital and several provinces lifted. | Mr Gilani also said opposition activists and leaders detained over the last week of mounting political disturbances would be freed and a ban on public demonstrations in the capital and several provinces lifted. |
| On Sunday, Mr Sharif - a former prime minister - had defied an apparent effort to place him under house arrest in the city of Lahore. | On Sunday, Mr Sharif - a former prime minister - had defied an apparent effort to place him under house arrest in the city of Lahore. |
| His supporters clashed with police, but managed to overcome barriers blocking access to the main highway to Islamabad and Mr Sharif left in a convoy. | His supporters clashed with police, but managed to overcome barriers blocking access to the main highway to Islamabad and Mr Sharif left in a convoy. |
| Mr Sharif then joined anti-government protesters planning a march on the capital to demand the re-instatement. | Mr Sharif then joined anti-government protesters planning a march on the capital to demand the re-instatement. |
| But after the prime minister's announcement he called off the march, saying: "Let us celebrate this with dignity". | |
| Speaking from Gujranwala, about 80km (50 miles) north-west of Lahore, he told supporters: "Today the nation has received very happy news. | Speaking from Gujranwala, about 80km (50 miles) north-west of Lahore, he told supporters: "Today the nation has received very happy news. |
| "We have said that we will restore the judges and the independent judiciary and by the grace of Allah we have achieved it." | "We have said that we will restore the judges and the independent judiciary and by the grace of Allah we have achieved it." |
| Spiralling unrest | Spiralling unrest |
| The campaign over the judges had turned into a power struggle between Mr Sharif and President Zardari, says the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad. | The campaign over the judges had turned into a power struggle between Mr Sharif and President Zardari, says the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad. |
| A crisis about more than judgesIn pictures: Pakistan protestsDeja-vu in Pakistan crackdown | A crisis about more than judgesIn pictures: Pakistan protestsDeja-vu in Pakistan crackdown |
| The unrest has alarmed the West, which wants Pakistan to focus on the battle against the Taleban on the Afghan border, says our correspondent. | The unrest has alarmed the West, which wants Pakistan to focus on the battle against the Taleban on the Afghan border, says our correspondent. |
| A militant insurgency based in the north-west of Pakistan has shown signs of spreading throughout the country. | A militant insurgency based in the north-west of Pakistan has shown signs of spreading throughout the country. |
| Earlier in March, the visiting Sri Lanka cricket team was attacked by gunmen in Lahore. Eight tour members were injured and six policemen were killed. | Earlier in March, the visiting Sri Lanka cricket team was attacked by gunmen in Lahore. Eight tour members were injured and six policemen were killed. |
| The tensions between Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif date back to the 1990s, but the two formed a brief partnership in government after parliamentary elections in February 2008. | The tensions between Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif date back to the 1990s, but the two formed a brief partnership in government after parliamentary elections in February 2008. |
| President Zardari had promised to bring back the judges when he took office last year following his wife's assassination. | President Zardari had promised to bring back the judges when he took office last year following his wife's assassination. |
| But Mr Sharif's party later left the alliance, complaining of reluctance by Mr Zardari's Pakistan People's Party to reinstate them. | But Mr Sharif's party later left the alliance, complaining of reluctance by Mr Zardari's Pakistan People's Party to reinstate them. |
| The latest crisis was sparked by a Supreme Court decision to ban Mr Sharif and his brother Shahbaz from elected office, and President Zardari's decision to put their stronghold in Punjab province under direct rule from Islamabad. | The latest crisis was sparked by a Supreme Court decision to ban Mr Sharif and his brother Shahbaz from elected office, and President Zardari's decision to put their stronghold in Punjab province under direct rule from Islamabad. |
| Are you in Pakistan? What is your reaction to this news? | Are you in Pakistan? What is your reaction to this news? |
| Send your comments using the post form below. | Send your comments using the post form below. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |