Pakistan reinstates sacked chief justice

[ProSense]

Pakistan reinstates sacked chief justice

by Sami Zubeiri Sami Zubeiri

ISLAMABAD (AFP) – Pakistan pledged on Monday to restore its deposed top judge and end a crackdown on activists, caving in under mass protests to try to defuse a crisis that took the nation to the brink of chaos.

Main opposition leader Nawaz Sharif welcomed what he called a historic achievement and promptly called off a mass protest march that had been due to descend on the capital Monday, averting widespread fears of unrest.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's climbdown, in a dawn address to the nation, followed overnight talks with President Asif Ali Zardari and army chief Ashfaq Kayani to prevent chaos in the central front in the "war on terror".

"I announce today that Iftikhar Chaudhry and all other deposed judges will be reinstated from March 21," when the current chief justice retires, Gilani said.

Zardari has come under massive Western pressure to defuse a standoff with Sharif, who urged the masses to rise up against the government to demand that judges sacked under emergency rule be reinstated.

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Pakistanis hail judge restoration

Pakistan Leader Backs Down and Reinstates Top Judge

LAHORE, Pakistan — The Pakistani government agreed early on Monday to reinstate the independent-minded former chief justice of the Supreme Court, a stunning concession to the opposition leader Nawaz Sharif, who had been heading toward the capital in a convoy threatening to stage a mass protest over the issue after he broke free from house arrest at his residence near here.

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The Obama administration’s special envoy to Pakistan, Richard C. Holbrooke, said the United States applauded “the statesmanlike act by President Zardari and hope that it will help defuse a dangerous confrontation so that Pakistan, with the help of its many friends, can address the nation’s pressing and urgent needs.”

In reaction to Mr. Zardari’s concession, Mr. Sharif said he would call off his protest and the planned sit-in in the capital. He said the restoration of the chief justice was a victory for Pakistan and a due but belated move by the president. After making his remarks in Gujranawala, he returned to his home in Raiwind, outside of Lahore.

The restoration of Mr. Chaudhry, who was dismissed two years ago by then-President Pervez Musharraf, appeared to show new weakness by Mr. Zardari. The former chief justice’s fate was a festering unresolved issue between Mr. Zardari and Mr. Sharif while the two men led a coalition government last year.

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Chairman Kerry Statement on Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-MA) released the following statement today regarding Pakistan’s decision to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to office:

"This is an important moment for Pakistan - by restoring Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to his position as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Pakistani people have shown their commitment to an independent judiciary and to the rule of law. Now, Pakistan's civilian leadership must avoid divisions and work together to further strengthen the nation's democratic institutions."

[Aloha Spirit]

1. A ray of hope

I wonder if Obama had a role in this

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h1aBshjF1CnfJ4noaEXA_Vb8dm-gD96V7L502

[Igel]

2. Perhaps a ray of hope.

Perhaps quite to the contrary.

I note that Zardari was seen as a kind of low-key savior by many. Then what does he do? He goes all Musharraf on us. He only backs down when confronted by more numerous arguers, not more powerful arguments.

Then there's Sharif, who seems to have close buddies in JUI. Always a selling point with me. And he seems to have managed to latch onto the Chaudhry thing. I wonder how Chaudhry will feel when it's time to reconsider the ban placed upon the Sharifs, and how that'll play out if the Musharraf-Zardari agreement is voided.

Ah, a ray of hope. Or of something. I'll leave my options open on how to characterize it.

[karynnj]

3. From these articles in the Times of India, it looks like the Obama administration did

There is an article from today suggesting that Obama through Clinton and the state department pushed for the reinstatement of the chief judge defusing the crisis. This is good Obama administration diplomacy if we were part of that decision.

A relieved US has credited Pakistani leaders for defusing the growing crisis over reinstatement of the former chief justice,
downplaying its own role in the compromise and denying any arm-twisting over aid.

"Well, of course, the Pakistanis themselves resolved the difficulties that were manifest over the last several days," Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters Monday, parrying a question whether she had linked continued US aid to a deal.

However, Clinton who had Saturday telephoned both President Asif Ali Zardari and his rival, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, said that the decision to reinstate Iftikhar Chaudhry as chief justice was a first step for much-needed reconciliation and political compromise in Pakistan.

"I believe that the resolution that they have agreed upon is the first step of what has to be an ongoing reconciliation and compromising of political views that can stabilise civilian democracy and the rule of law," she said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/US/US_credits_Pakistan_for_defusing_crisis_denies_arm_twisting/articleshow/4274694.cms

Last week, the same paper carried comments from Kerry that spoke of the Pakistani government working hard to resolve the crisis and try to unify the country going forward. Clearly the US and the UN worked hard to stabilize a situation that could easily have spun out of control.

Pakistan's leaders "are working very, very hard to try to reach an agreement that will bring elements of the government together in unity and allow them to go forward," said Kerry, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"Our objective, obviously, is to sustain the democracy," he added after talks with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. "They're getting their feet under them right now, so we need to be helpful, we need to be supportive."

Kerry spoke after Pakistan detained hundreds of activists Wednesday on the eve of a mass protest against the government, as demonstrators defied a ban on gatherings to slam President Asif Ali Zardari.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif urged the masses to take part in the four-day march to the capital, which organizers hope will mobilize hundreds of thousands of lawyers, opposition party members and civil society activists.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Washington-must-help-Pakistan-democracy-John-Kerry/articleshow/4253508.cms

[karynnj]

4. K & R