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Pakistan judge regains top post Pakistan judge regains top post
(about 5 hours later)
Pakistan's sacked Supreme Court chief justice has formally returned to his post following months of mass protests by opposition activists.Pakistan's sacked Supreme Court chief justice has formally returned to his post following months of mass protests by opposition activists.
Iftikhar Chaudhry's reinstatement was marked by a ceremonial flag-raising. The Pakistani government ordered Iftikhar Chaudhry's reinstatement on Monday to stave off a huge rally planned by the opposition.
Correspondents say the government's decision to reinstate Mr Chaudhry on Monday was a response to opposition threats to call a huge rally. His return is being hailed as a victory for an independent judiciary.
Mr Chaudhry and 60 other judges were dismissed by former President Pervez Musharraf in 2007.Mr Chaudhry and 60 other judges were dismissed by former President Pervez Musharraf in 2007.
Most of the judges have since been reinstated. Most have since been reinstated.
'Victory for judiciary''Victory for judiciary'
Mr Chaudhry formally resumed his post at midnight on Saturday. Mr Chaudhry was formally restored to his post at midnight on Saturday.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Monday he would return to his job after current Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar quit the post. The event was marked by a ceremonial flag-raising outside his house, where hundreds of lawyers and activists celebrated.
One lawyer told the BBC that they were celebrating because they had sustained "a popular, plural, democratic, tolerant, peaceful, non-violent movement" over two years. Q&A: Pakistan's political instabilityPakistanis hail reinstatement
"Those two years have required blood, they've required sweat, they've required tears, tear-gas," he said.
"For instance the baton charges, imprisonments, police brutality, everything - and we faced it."
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Monday that Mr Chaudhry would return to his job after current Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar quit the post.
But the government clearly acted under pressure from the opposition, who had staged mass protest rallies for several days, the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says.But the government clearly acted under pressure from the opposition, who had staged mass protest rallies for several days, the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says.
Mr Chaudhry's return has been hailed as a victory for an independent judiciary in Pakistan, our correspondent says. Mr Chaudhry was dismissed in 2007 by the-then military ruler, Pervez Musharraf, who feared the Supreme Court would disqualify him from contesting the presidential election while still wearing military uniform.
One reason for the failure - until now - to reinstate Mr Chaudhry is thought to be the fact that he challenged an amnesty given by Gen Musharraf that enabled Asi Ali Zardari to return to Pakistan, where he won presidential elections last year. Government pledge
The chief justice's return could open up new battles for the presidency, she adds.
One reason for the failure to reinstate Mr Chaudhry until now is believed to be the fact that he challenged an amnesty given by Gen Musharraf that enabled Asif Ali Zardari to return to Pakistan, where he won presidential elections last year.
If the amnesty was overturned, Mr Zardari, the widower of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, could be left exposed to corruption charges.If the amnesty was overturned, Mr Zardari, the widower of former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, could be left exposed to corruption charges.
Mr Chaudhry's return could open up new battles for the presidency, our correspondent says. The opposition protests and unrest had alarmed Western powers, and the US envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, hailed the government's decision to reinstate Mr Chaudhry.
Government's pledge Announcing the move, Prime Minister Gilani also said opposition activists and leaders detained over the past week of mounting disturbances would be freed and a ban on demonstrations in the capital and several provinces lifted.
Our correspondent says the opposition have been jubilant at Mr Chaudhry's return, regarding it as the triumph of two years of struggle against both military and civilian governments. Q&A: Pakistan's political instabilityPakistanis hail reinstatement
The opposition protests and unrest had alarmed Western powers, and the US envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, hailed Mr Gilani's decision.
Announcing Mr Chaudhry's reinstatement, Mr Gilani also said opposition activists and leaders detained over the past week of mounting disturbances would be freed and a ban on demonstrations in the capital and several provinces lifted.
The government in Islamabad also asked the Supreme Court to review a ruling that banned opposition leader and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother from holding elected office.The government in Islamabad also asked the Supreme Court to review a ruling that banned opposition leader and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother from holding elected office.