Pak reinstates CJ, Sharif calls off protest

Islamabad, Mar 16: Celebrations broke out in Islamabad and Lahore as the govt decided to announce the restoration of the deposed Chief Justice, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

The announcement was made by Gilani in a televised address to the nation. The Pakistan govt has also agreed to restore the Pakistan-Punjab government of Shahbaz Sharif, who was sacked following the Supreme Court order.

This is the prime demand of the former Prime Minister and Opposition leader, Nawaz Sharif, who began the last leg of his unprecedented Long March earlier in the day from Lahore.

The decision to reinstate Chaudhry, who was sacked when former military ruler Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency in Nov 2007, was taken during a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.

PML-N spokesman Siddique-ul-Farooq told reporters that his party had been informed that Chaudhry was being reinstated through an executive order.

Pakistan's army chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, held meetings with Gilani and Zardari late Sunday, Mar 15 and reportedly pressed the two leaders for a deal to avert instability.

OneIndia News