Special report: Pakistani Situation
by Li Zhongfa
ISLAMABAD, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani government on Monday announced the restoration of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry following protests from lawyers and activists, a move aimed at defusing the rising political turmoil.
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Deposed Pakistani Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry leaves after after offering prayers in Islamabad on March 13. Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced Monday the government would reinstate the country's deposed top judge, caving in to a key opposition demand in a bid to end political turmoil. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
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"My countrymen, in accordance with my commitment and
the commitment made by the President of Pakistan, I declare reinstatement of Mr.
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and all other deposed judges on their positions,"
said Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in a televised speech early
Monday morning.
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Supporters of restored Chief Justice
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry hold a celebration outside his residence in
Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, March 16, 2009. Pakistani Prime Minister
Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday announced the restoration of all judges
including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry deposed in 2007, in a
bid to end political turmoil in the country.(Xinhua/Rao Bo)
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Gilani said that Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry
will take the office on March 21 on the retirement of the incumbent Chief
Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar.
Gilani also demanded immediate release of all
political activists and lawyers who have been arrested over the past few days.
The lawyers and political activists kicked off their
"long march" on March 12, and planned to reach capital Islamabad Monday to stage
sit-in pressing for the government to restore the judges including Chaudhry
sacked in November 2007 when then-President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of
emergency.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, also chief of
opposition party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), spearheaded the
procession from eastern city of Lahore to Islamabad after defying a detention
order issued by the local administration.
Sharif has called off the "long march" and sit-in
after the government's decision to restore the chief justice.
Sharif congratulated the whole nation over the
reinstatement of deposed judges, saying the restoration of chief justice is a
big success and a prelude to positive change.
A large number of political activists and lawyers
rushed to the residence of the former chief justice to celebrate his
restoration.
Pakistan plunged into another political turmoil just
one year after the new government, led by Pakistan People's Party (PPP), took
office.
Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari, also the PPP
co-chairman, broke up last August after Zardari refused to reinstate the chief
justice.
The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan issued a statement
immediately after the government's decision, saying "this is a statesmanlike
decision taken to defuse a serious confrontation, and the apparent removal of
this long-standing national issue is a substantial step towards national
reconciliation".
"Now is the time for all Pakistanis and their
political representatives to work together, with the support of their friends
and allies, to peacefully strengthen their democracy and ensure a positive
dialogue as they move forward to deal with the many issues confronting them,"
said the statement.
Pakistan's opposition leader Sharif
calls off "long march" protest
ISLAMABAD, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Former Pakistani Prime Minister and opposition
party chief Nawaz Sharif on Monday called off the "long march" demonstration
after the government announced the restoration of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar
Muhammad Chaudhry.
Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani announced
restoration of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry earlier Monday
in a televised address to the nation. Full story
Pakistan's Sharif leads demonstration
to capital, defying detention order
ISLAMABAD, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Former Pakistani
prime minister and opposition party chief Nawaz Sharif on Sunday began to lead
the "long march" procession from his residence in Lahore to capital Islamabad,
defying the detention order from the government.
While addressing his supporters in Lahore, capital of
eastern Punjab province, Sharif, chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N),
demanded removal of barriers on the way to Islamabad and warned that the party
workers will remove them, the official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP)
reported. Full story
Pakistan restores deposed
judges
ISLAMABAD, March 16
(Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani announced restoration of
all deposed judges including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Monday
morning in a bid to end political turmoil in the country.
"My countrymen, in accordance with my commitment and
the commitment made by the President of Pakistan, I declare reinstatement of Mr.
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and all other deposed judges on their positions," the
prime minister said in a televised address. Full story
Former Pakistani PM's movement
restricted
ISLAMABAD, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The government of Pakistan
has restricted the movement of former Prime Minister and chief of a major
opposition party Nawaz Sharif on Sunday, the private TV channel DAWN NEWS
reported.
The government restricted Sharif's movement for three
days, said the report. It is a move with an apparent aim to foil the lawyers'
"long march", which Sharif announced on Saturday evening to lead. Full story
Former Pakistani PM Sharif renews call
for people to join protest
ISLAMABAD, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The former Pakistani Prime
Minister and leader of a main opposition party Nawaz Sharif on Sunday renewed
his call for people to join the lawyers' protesting movement.
Addressing a news briefing at his residence in Lahore,
capital city of eastern Punjab province, Sharif said he urged people to join the
"long march" of the lawyers. Full story
Pakistan police clash with protesters
amid rising crisis
ISLAMABAD, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan police clashed
with the protesters in eastern Pakistani city of Lahore on Sunday as the
prevailing political crisis is worsening in the country.
The protesters turned angry on Sunday after reports came
that former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, also chief of the opposition party
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), was put under house arrest and the
government intensified crackdown on the lawyer's "long march". Full story
Pakistani official says Sharif
brothers not under house arrest
ISLAMABAD, March 15 (Xinhua) -- The Advisor to the Prime
Minister on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik Sunday denied reports about former
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother being placed under house arrest.
The private DAWN NEWS TV channel quoted Malik as saying
that the Sharif brothers were neither put under house arrest nor their movements
restricted. Full story
Pakistan's Sharif leads demonstration
to capital, defying detention order
ISLAMABAD, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Former Pakistani
prime minister and opposition party chief Nawaz Sharif on Sunday began to lead
the "long march" procession from his residence in Lahore to capital Islamabad,
defying the detention order from the government.
While addressing his supporters in Lahore, capital of
eastern Punjab province, Sharif, chief of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N),
demanded removal of barriers on the way to Islamabad and warned that the party
workers will remove them, the official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP)
reported. Full story
India concerned about possible army
intervention in Pakistan amid political turmoil
NEW DELHI, March 15 (Xinhua) -- India is worried over a
possible army intervention in Pakistan in the face of a political turmoil in the
neighboring country, triggered by protest rallies called by lawyers and former
Premier Nawaz Sharif, a senior Indian official said Sunday. Full story
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