Official: Pakistan to restore chief justice

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: AP

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistan agreed Monday to reinstate a fired chief justice, a government official said, a move that could help defuse a political crisis that has sparked street battles and raised fears of instability in the country at a time of surging Islamist violence.

Opposition leaders and lawyers had vowed to sit-in at the parliament later Monday until Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, known for his independence and willingness to challenge authority, was reinstated. The capital has been barricaded and scores of extra police brought in amid fears of violence.

"Yes, the chief justice is going to be restored," said a senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the prime minister was due formally announce the decision later Monday. He said Chaudhry would be sworn in on March 22, the day after the current chief justice was due to retire.

Presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani would soon have "good news" for the country that would "end the crisis."

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hkiMxbHNH0BqgpWA2ZG6VD6wVTmAD96UP7BG0

---

Mass demonstrations can have effects, sometimes.

[Idealism]

1. Good, Zardari was about to be ousted if this didn't happen.

[Igel]

2. So he bought himself a couple of months.

I'm hesitant to say that there'll be less instability.

Chaudhry ... I was moderately happy to see him go. For some reason, I expect Sharif to be in charge by August, and I don't think I'll like that.

[Idealism]

3. In charge of Islamabad perhaps

but little else, most likely. With the government openly making deals with terrorists like the SWAT valley debacle, I doubt you will see them ruling much else beside the capital. Sharif will be a mayor, like Kharzai.

[Vehl]

4. good, politicians should not poke their nose into the judicial system

there are two things that no country should have.

1 Religion influencing politics
2 Politicians taking the law in their own hands

[cosmicone]

5. Pakistan has done both of those over and over n/t

[Kalyan]

6. a good sign ...

Restoring the position back to the CJP is the first correct step in the rehabilitation of Pakistan state. There is a long way to go for Pakistan and it should start with eliminating Taliban from their western borders.

[peace_to_world]

7. That's a good news

I hope that Zardari will keep his word this time.

[bemildred]

8. Pakistan takes a right turn

---

Gilani's surprise announcement followed intense negotiations over the past few days in which the lawyers and opposition political parties had flatly refused to make any compromises with the government.

Gilani also promised that the government would revisit this month's Supreme Court decision that barred former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz from holding elected office. He also said that all demonstrators arrested in recent days - including Nawaz Sharif - would be released.

It appears that Gilani had little choice. Local administrations and police had completely defied the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) government and allowed thousands of marchers to proceed to Islamabad. Significantly, the United States had looked towards the army to intervene, but it was in no position to do so, raising a serious question mark over the US's ability to influence decisions in Pakistan, its chief ally in the regional war theater.

The US Embassy responded at 7am on Monday with with a statement: "We welcome the announcement by the government of Pakistan of its plans to reinstate former chief justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry. This is a statesmanlike decision taken to defuse a serious confrontation, and the apparent removal of this long-standing national issue is a substantial step towards national reconciliation. Now is the time for all Pakistanis and their political representatives to work together, with the support of their friends and allies, to peacefully strengthen their democracy and ensure a positive dialogue as they move forward to deal with the many issues confronting them."

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KC17Df01.html