Back to work for Pak CJ

Pakistan's Chief Justice Iftikar M Chaudhry resumed his official duties on Saturday, a day after military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf lost a bid to fire him.

Pakistan’s Chief Justice Iftikar M Chaudhry resumed his official duties on Saturday, a day after military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf lost a bid to fire him.

Chief Justice Iftikar Mohammed Chaudhry resumed his duties from his residence in capital Islamabad to the cheers of hundreds of rallying lawyers, who also demanded that Musharraf resign. A small rally was organised in Lahore.

Chaudhry’s reinstatement on Friday has clouded the political future of the General—a key US ally in the war on terror—just as the country faces growing violence by Islamic militants.

In a landmark ruling on Friday, Supreme Court judges voted unanimously to restore Chaudhry and 10-3 to quash charges of misconduct that Musharraf had sent to a separate judicial tribunal.

Cheers from black-suited lawyers, who have led mass protests against Musharraf since he suspended Chaudhry on March 9, reverberated through the high-roofed courtroom after presiding Judge Khalil-ur-

Rehman Ramday announced that the judge’s suspension was “illegal” and set aside the charges against him.

The surprise verdict on an appeal from Chaudhry—many expected the court to reinstate him while letting the tribunal’s investigation continue—has been widely hailed as a democratic breakthrough in a country dominated by the military for most of its 60-year history.

Story continues below this ad

It has also triggered fresh calls for Musharraf to step down. The General had seized power in a coup in 1999.

Chaudhry—who is expected to return to his Supreme Court office on Monday—has not commented on the ruling, and Musharraf has accepted the verdict, although has not given any indication of his next move.