Islamabad: Pakistan's Supreme Court yesterday reinstated suspended chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry in a historic verdict, striking down the charges of misconduct laid against him by the government of President Pervez Musharraf.
A spokesman for Musharraf said the Supreme Court verdict would be honoured. In a statement through the official news agency, the spokesman said: "The President respects the decision of the Supreme Court. He stated earlier that any judgement the Supreme Court arrives at will be honoured, respected and adhered to."
A 13-judge bench headed by Justice Khalil-ur-Reh-man Ramday announced the landmark judgment that observers said marks a turnaround for independence of judiciary and restoration of democracy.
Three judges dissented on some points. As lawyers celebrated outside the court in Islamabad, Chaudhry's chief counsel Aitzaz Ahsan told reporters that the case alleging misconduct by Chaudhry had been quashed.
"He has been restored and it is a victory for the entire nation," he said. Lawyers swarmed around the attorney, chanting "Go Musharraf Go!"
Celebrations
The verdict also prompted celebrations among gatherings of hundreds of lawyers in major cities and among opposition supporters. A top rights activist declared the verdict a victory for civil society.
"It's very clear that guns and intimidation will not bow down civil society or civil institutions of Pakistan," said Asma Jehangir, chair of the nongovernment Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
