Court reinstates Pakistani justice
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – In a serious blow to beleaguered president Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the Supreme Court voted unanimously Friday to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, the outspoken jurist whose suspension four months ago galvanized a pro-democracy movement.
The development comes amid the greatest turmoil in Pakistan since Musharraf seized power in a coup eight years ago. Nearly 200 people have been killed during July in suicide bombings and confrontations between Pakistani security forces and Islamic militants, which were ignited by the storming of a radical mosque in this capital city.
The escalating political and military strife raises new questions as to whether Musharraf, who is considered a crucial U.S. ally in the war against resurgent elements of al-Qaida and the Taliban, can retain power.
Chaudhry’s reinstatement paves the way for fresh judicial challenges to the Pakistani leader’s plans to remain chief of the country’s military while securing a new five-year presidential term at the hands of a pliant national assembly before new elections later this year.
The court ruling was an unambiguous rebuke to Musharraf, who had sought in March to remove Chaudhry on misconduct charges. The justices declared the suspension illegal and, in a separate 10-3 vote, threw out the allegations of wrongdoing.
Rejoicing erupted outside the courthouse, with usually somber black-suited lawyers dancing and opposition party workers cheering the verdict.
In cities across Pakistan, political activists and lawyers distributed sweets, the traditional token of celebration.
Chaudhry’s chief counsel, Aitzaz Ahsan, called the court decision a “victory for the entire nation.”
Musharraf gave no indication he would seek to challenge the ruling, either by legal or military means. His spokesman, Rashid Qureshi, said Musharraf “respects the decision of the Supreme Court.”
The Bush administration, which has backed Musharraf throughout the crisis, pointed to the verdict as proof of judicial independence.