In the face of planned demonstrations in Islamabad today, Pakistan’s president has decided to reinstate Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary as chief justice of the supreme court, in an attempt to quash a direct challenge to his rule.
The move by Asif Ali Zardari defuses a two-year dispute that contributed to the downfall last year of his predecessor. Riots broke out in 2007 after Chaudhary was dismissed by then-president General Pervez Musharraf.
Yusuf Raza Gilani, prime minster, said early today in a pre-sunrise speech on national television: “Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary will take charge as chief justice of the supreme court after the retirement of Abdul Hameed Dogar (the present chief justice of the supreme court) when he retires on March 21.” Gilani also ordered the release of all those arrested in a government crackdown last week.
Ahead of Mr. Gilani’s announcement, the police in Islamabad began removing barricades placed on entrances to the city, which were raised to stop protestors from coming in to Islamabad.
Chaudhary’s return follows Sunday’s widespread violence in Lahore, Pakistan’s second biggest city, where Sharif led a large number of opposition party protesters.
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