Restoration of Chief Justice
23 July, 2007
A 134-day long judicial crisis that haunted the entire
nation has come to an end as a 13-member bench of the
Supreme Court reinstated the suspended Chief Justice
Iftikhar Chaudry, and set aside the presidential
reference against him. " The chief justice is reinstated", as soon as Justice
Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday, head of the 13-member bench
declared at a heavily-packed court room at Supreme
Court building on a warn evening, thousands of lawyers
and political activists raised vociferous slogans of "
Allah-o-Akbar", " long live Iftikhar Chaudry", and "
military rule unacceptable".
Justice Chaudry was suspended by the military ruler
General Pervez Musharraf on March 9 on the charges of
misconduct and misuse of authority. The supreme court bench in its short judgment rejected
all the charges against Justice Chaudry, who
re-assumed his charge after the apex court`s judgment. President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have announced to accept the apex court`s judgment with its letter and spirit.
Analysts believe that the apex court`s judgment will
increase pressure both on General Musharraf and
Justice Chaudry as various key issues like uniformed
president, and presidential elections from incumbent
assemblies, are likely to be moved to the Supreme
Court.
The judgment has also left prime minister under
immense pressure to resign, though, he had nothing to
do with this reference.
" Someone has to sacrifice now. And in my opinion, he
(Aziz) is the most suitable scapegoat at the moment",
Ayaz Ameer , a senior political analyst said. Here are some questions
questionsrn1)Is this judgment beginning of a new judicial era in
Pakistan? 2)Is this destination of the lawyers` struggle or
should they go ahead for restoration of civilian rule? 3)Who should resign, the president or the prime
minister? 4)What lesson should the political parties learn from
lawyers` struggle?
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