Islamabad
02 May 2008
The leader of the second largest political party in Pakistan's ruling coalition announced Friday that all the judges President Pervez Musharraf sacked last year will be reinstated on May 12. Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad.
President Pervez Musharraf dismissed some 60 senior judges, including the country's chief justice, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, on November 3 when he declared a six-week emergency rule in the country.
Musharraf's action stemmed from fears the Supreme Court was on the verge of challenging his re-election as president of Pakistan in October, while still being the chief of the country's military.
His decision received countrywide opposition led by the lawyers' community, paving the way for anti-Musharraf political parities to win February parliamentary elections.
Analysts say that restoration of the judges will be a major setback for an increasingly unpopular Musharraf and his ability to cling to the presidency.