Pakistan's top judge reinstated

[Eugene]

Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Friday, 20 July 2007, 11:40 GMT 12:40 UK

Pakistan's top judge reinstated

Pakistan's Supreme Court has ruled that Chief Justice
Iftikhar Chaudhry should be reinstated.

He was suspended in March on the orders of President
Pervez Musharraf, after being accused of misusing his
office for personal gain.

The Supreme Court judges ruled by 10 to three to
reinstate him, and quashed all charges against him.

Mr Chaudhry has become the focus of opposition to the
president, addressing rallies around the country.

His supporters say the suspension was an attempt to
undermine the judiciary's independence in an election
year.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6907685.stm

---

(Original Story)

Source: Associated Press

Pakistan Court Reinstates Top Judge

Friday July 20, 2007 12:31 PM

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - The Supreme Court on Friday
reinstated Pakistan's top judge, ruling that his suspension
by President Gen. Pervez Musharraf was “illegal.”

Presiding Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday said Musharraf's
order suspending Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry
was ”set aside as being illegal.”

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6793465,00.html

[acmavm]

1. Mushy needs to call his travel agent and book his ticket out of

the country.

[Kagemusha]

2. Not that I have any love for the guy but, what happens then?

The islamists are just going to roll over and play dead for a democratic government?

[acmavm]

3. Seriously, I'm not saying this is a good thing. In fact, I don't know

what'll happen if they guy gets overthrown. I have it will not bode well for the US.

And isn't it coincidental that Dr. A.Q. Kahn has recently been released from house arrest?

Bad things are happening in Pakistan.

[Kagemusha]

4. Um, scientists aren't the same thing as strongmen at all.

I don't think Kahn getting out has the slightest thing to do with revolution.

[acmavm]

6. He's a national hero, not to mention a guy who sold nuclear weapons

technology to the countries that hate the west the most. And he was under 'house' arrest. And there was a lot of anger about that. Anger that spilled out to the populace. Anger that forced his release. You don't think that all this is connected?

[Kagemusha]

7. I don't confuse symptoms with underlying diseases.

Releasing the man neither helps Musharraf that much nor worsens the broader situation any more than it already has been by the Red Mosque incident, which is something that extremists consider worth killing over. Khan's freedom? I imagine it's way down the list.

Connected perhaps, but via a tangent. The moving and shaking is occurring elsewhere - like with the reinstatement of that chief justice guy today (which had not happened when this thread started).

[JCMach1]

5. Something interesting happening with my Pakistani friends today

there was a real hunger for Democracy and rule of law... Oh yeah, and Musharaf is finished...

[saigon68]

8. Musharraf,-= the thug who overthrew the democratically elected govt

Another Bush Bot

[Ghost Dog]

9. Musharraf rebuffed as Pakistan judge back in office

Source: AFP http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/070721023559.8uw1q9jj.html
21/07/2007 02h40

ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Pakistan's top judge began his first full day back in office Saturday after a court rebuffed his suspension by under-fire President Pervez Musharraf, a verdict hailed by key ally Washington.

Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry's Supreme Court victory on Friday sparked scenes of jubilation in several cities, with lawyers dancing and shouting "Go, Musharraf, go" outside the house of the man who has become an opposition hero.

The decision piled pressure on Musharraf as the country reels from a week of bloody suicide bombings following the storming of the militant Red Mosque in Islamabad, and ahead of elections due early 2008 at the latest.

The military ruler, who grabbed power in a coup in 1999, will now likely find it more difficult to push through possible changes to the constitution to allow him to retain his dual posts as president and army chief.

/...