Sacked judges restored in line with Benazir's promise: Aitzaz

Rawalpindi (Pakistan), Mar.18 (ANI): Former Supreme Court Bar Association president and leader of the lawyers' Long March, Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan said Wednesday that the restoration of the deposed judges was in accordance with the promises made by slain former Prime Minister and PPP leader Benazir Bhutto.

Talking to newsmen after visiting the Benazir's memorial here, he said martyrs never die and she is also with us in this gathering.

"We renew our pledge of complete loyalty with her," he said.

Ahsan offered prayers and laid a floral wreath on the memorial.

Ahsan's statement came two days after agitating lawyers, political activists and former PM Nawaz Sharif propelled Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry to his rightful position as the Chief Justice of Pakistan.

In a swift response to President Asif Ali Zardari's acceptance of the need to restore judges deposed by President General Pervez Musharraf in 2007, Sharif, who had set off on a 'Long March' from Lahore to Islamabad on Sunday, ended the agitation and declared victory.

Following intense pressure mounted by Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and the United States, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani announced in a televised address to the nation that Chaudhry and other judges sacked in November 2007 would be reinstated.

As Pakistan celebrated people's power, Chaudhry described his re-instatement as a "great success" for the two-year-long agitation led by the country's legal community. He will resume office on March 21.

Ahsan then said that for the chief justice to be able to work, he must have the cooperation of the government.

"We appeal to the government to cooperate with the chief justice and not create hurdles for him," Ahsan said. (ANI)