Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was set to address the nation Monday and announce the restoration of former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, senior government officials said. The move came as opposition leader Nawaz Sharif led a large protest march toward Islamabad, defying a house arrest order.
Chaudhry was removed from his post on 3 November 2007 by then-military ruler Pervez Musharraf, along with roughly 60 other judges. His ouster triggered nationwide demonstrations that ultimately pushed Musharraf from power in August 2008. Of the dismissed judges, 53 had already been returned to their posts before Monday's anticipated announcement.
The political standoff escalated after the Supreme Court barred Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif from holding office on 25 February. Riot police in Lahore used batons and tear gas against protesters, while Sharif supporters dismantled roadblocks and a convoy of more than 100 vehicles headed toward the capital.
President Asif Ali Zardari, facing heavy Western pressure to resolve the crisis, joined Gilani and army chief Ashfaq Kayani in talks on reinstating the chief justice. Chaudhry Nisar, head of Sharif's parliamentary bloc, confirmed the prime minister had indicated he would announce the restoration in his speech. Analysts cautioned that prolonged unrest risked drawing in the military.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in March 2009, in its own words.