Pakistan does about-turn on chief justice

The concession averted a potentially bloody showdown in the capital Islamabad, where thousands of protesters had vowed to march yesterday to press their demand for the return of the Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, and about 60 judges sacked by former president Pervez Musharraf in 2007.

Early yesterday morning the Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, made a dramatic appearance on television to announce Mr Chaudhry and the other deposed judges would be reappointed on March 21.

Opposition party workers and activists detained over the past week would be released and a ban on demonstrations in several provinces lifted, Mr Gilani said.

Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister and main opposition leader, called off the protest - dubbed the "long march" - following the Government's assurances. "It is a historic day, a great day which will change the country's destiny," Mr Sharif said.

There were scenes of jubilation when the crowds heard of the Government's about-turn on the judges. Lawyers celebrated with dancing and singing outside Mr Chaudhry's house in Islamabad. Investors also cheered the announcement, pushing the Karachi stock exchange up more than 5 per cent.

The protest has underscored Mr Sharif's political clout, especially in his home state of the Punjab, which dominates Pakistani politics.

However, Mr Zardari has been diminished politically by the tense stand-off.

Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, the executive director of an Islamabad think tank, the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency, said Mr Zardari's "moral authority" has been weakened and the position of Mr Gilani had been significantly strengthened.

"It will now be very difficult for Zardari, because the episode has raised very serious questions about his ability to govern and provide leadership," Mr Mehboob said.

The setback for Mr Zardari had made it more likely that he will be stripped of many of his powers and become more of a figurehead president, he said.

The judges issue has been a flashpoint in Pakistan politics for the past two years. Mr Musharraf sacked Mr Chaudhry in March 2007, spawning a lawyers movement that has campaigned relentlessly for his reinstatement.

The courts overturned Mr Musharraf's decision in July 2007, but within months Mr Musharraf called a state of emergency and dismissed Mr Chaudhry again, along with about 60 other judges.

Mr Musharraf's treatment of the judiciary contributed to a sharp fall in his popularity. He resigned in August last year, several months after his party, the Pakistan Muslim League, was trounced in national elections.

Senior Western diplomats, including the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, had spoken to both Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif over the past few days in an attempt to resolve the stand-off. Yesterday the US praised the Pakistan Government for its action to "defuse a serious confrontation".

Mr Zardari, who leads the Pakistan People's Party, replaced Mr Musharraf as president but has been reluctant to reinstate Mr Chaudhry because he feared the judge may overturn an amnesty from corruption charges granted to him and his wife, Benazir Bhutto, before their return to Pakistan from exile in 2007. Ms Bhutto was subsequently assassinated in December 2007.SCALES TIP

October 1999 Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif overthrown by General Pervez Musharraf.

December 2000 Sharif goes into exile in Saudi Arabia.

August 2007 Supreme Court rules Sharif can return from exile.

November 2007 Musharraf declares emergency rule. Chief Justice Chaudhry is dismissed.

August 2008 Pakistan's governing parties launch impeachment proceedings against Musharraf, who resigns. Sharif pulls his party out of the coalition government, accusing the rival party of reneging on the reinstatement of judges sacked by Musharraf.

March 16, 2009 Government announces the reinstatement of Chaudhry as Chief Justice.