Pakistani Supreme Court reinstates jurist

The Baltimore Sun

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- In a serious new blow to beleaguered president Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the Supreme Court voted unanimously yesterday to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, the outspoken jurist whose suspension four months ago galvanized a broad-based pro-democracy movement.

The development comes amid the greatest turmoil in Pakistan since Musharraf seized power in a coup eight years ago. Nearly 200 people have been killed this month in suicide bombings and confrontations between Pakistani security forces and Islamic militants, which were ignited by the storming of a radical mosque in the capital, Islamabad.

The escalating political and military strife raises new questions whether Musharraf, who is considered a crucial U.S. ally in the war against al-Qaida and the Taliban, can retain his grip on power.

Chaudhry's reinstatement paves the way for fresh judicial challenges to the Pakistani leader's plans to remain chief of the country's military while securing a new five-year presidential term at the hands of a pliant national assembly before new elections, which will be held by the end of the year.

The court ruling was a stingingly unambiguous rebuke to Musharraf, who had sought in March to remove Chaudhry on misconduct charges. The justices declared the suspension illegal and, in a separate 10-3 vote, threw out the allegations of wrongdoing.

Rejoicing erupted outside the courthouse, with usually somber black-suited lawyers dancing up and down in glee and opposition party workers cheering the verdict.

In cities across Pakistan, political activists and lawyers distributed sweets, the traditional token of celebration.

Chaudhry's chief counsel, Aitzaz Ahsan, called the court decision a "victory for the entire nation." Human rights activists also hailed the verdict.

"It's a great day for the rule of law in Pakistan," said Ali Dayan Hasan, a researcher for Human Rights Watch.

Musharraf gave no indication that he would seek to challenge the ruling, either by legal or military means. His spokesman, Rashid Qureshi, said the Pakistani leader "respects the decision of the Supreme Court."

"The president stated earlier that any judgment the Supreme Court arrives at will be honored, respected and adhered to," Qureshi said in a statement.

The Bush administration, which has backed Musharraf throughout the crisis, pointed to the verdict as proof of judicial independence.

State Department spokesman Tom Casey said the ruling "speaks positively ... that these kinds of issues can be resolved through the established institutions, through the rule of law."

Copyright © 2021, The Baltimore Sun, a Baltimore Sun Media Group publication | Place an Ad
72°