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Pakistan reinstates sacked judge Pakistan reinstates sacked judge
(40 minutes 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 Jubilation
Mr Chaudhry and 60 other judges were dismissed by Gen Musharraf in 2007. Mr Chaudhry and 60 other judges were dismissed by former President Pervez 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. Mr Gilani's announcement, broadcast on television, triggered scenes of jubilation from Mr Chaudhry's supporters outside his home in Islamabad and among supporters of Mr Sharif.
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. 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
On Sunday, Mr Sharif - a former prime minister - had defied an apparent effort to place him under house arrest in the city of Lahore. Mr Gilani also said opposition activists and leaders detained over the last week of mounting disturbances would be freed and a ban on demonstrations in the capital and several provinces lifted.
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. The announcement is a victory for the lawyers' after their campaign of street protests, says the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad.
Mr Sharif then joined anti-government protesters planning a march on the capital to demand the re-instatement. "This is a victory for the people of this country," said Baz Mohammad Kakar, a leader of the lawyers' movement.
But after the prime minister's announcement he called off the march, saying: "Let us celebrate this with dignity". "Chaudhry is the first chief justice in the history of Pakistan who has proved himself to be a judge for the people, as a chief justice for the people."
Speaking from Gujranwala, about 80km (50 miles) north-west of Lahore, he told supporters: "Today the nation has received very happy news. Our correspondent says the development is also a victory for Mr Sharif, a long-time opponent of President Zardari who had backed the lawyers' calls to reinstate Mr Chaudhry.
"We have said that we will restore the judges and the independent judiciary and by the grace of Allah we have achieved it." After the prime minister's announcement he called off the march on Islamabad, saying: "Let us celebrate this with dignity".
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.
A crisis about more than judgesIn pictures: Pakistan protestsDeja-vu in Pakistan crackdownA 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. Speaking from Gujranwala, about 80km (50 miles) north-west of Lahore, he told supporters: "We have said that we will restore the judges and the independent judiciary and by the grace of Allah we have achieved it."
A militant insurgency based in the north-west of Pakistan has shown signs of spreading throughout the country. Mr Sharif had left Lahore on Sunday with a convoy of supporters, defying an apparent effort to put him under house arrest.
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. Riot police had surrounded his Lahore home but after supporters clashed with them Mr Sharif moved past unchecked and left the city.
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. Several days of rallies around Pakistan were to culminate in a "long march" on Islamabad and a sit-in to press the demand for the reinstatement of the judges.
President Zardari had promised to bring back the judges when he took office last year following his wife's assassination. The government's announcement marks the end for the time being of the power struggle between Mr Sharif and Mr Zardari, says our Islamabad correspondent.
But Mr Sharif's party later left the alliance, complaining of reluctance by Mr Zardari's Pakistan People's Party to reinstate them. There are indications that other issues that inflamed tensions between the two will be resolved: a Supreme Court decision last month that banned 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.
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