ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani early Monday morning has announced reinstatement of the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and other judges.

“I restore the deposed chief justice and others according to the promise made by me and the President,”

Gilani said in a televised address to the nation.

The announcement, in light of the directive of President Asif Ali Zardari, met the main demand of the political parties and the lawyers community. He said “a notification to this effect is being issued now. Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry will replace Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, who retires on March 21.

Gilani said and pledged to “continue the politics of reconciliation.” The deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was removed from service by former President Pervez Musharraf on March 9, 2007, sparking a wave of protest that led to his resignation from his office on August 18, 2008.

The prime minister also announced reinstatement of the two remaining judges of the Supreme Court and said the number of judges for the Supreme Court has already been increased through legislation to accommodate the reinstated judges.

The Prime Minister also announced that the federal government would file a review petition in the Supreme Court seeking reversal of the order of disqualification of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, and addressing all issues in light of the Charter of Democracy.

“I invite them to move forward along with all political forces for the implementation of the Charter of Democracy,

He asked the provincial governments to lift the Section 144 immediately and release the arrested persons. He said the PPP had made a lot of contribution to the lawyers movement and rendered numerous sacrifices. He said shaheed Benazir Bhutto had pledged to reinstate the deposed Chief Justice.

Gilani said President Asif Ali Zardari also pledged to do the same. Gilani recalled that soon after securing a heavy mandate from the parliament he had announced the release of the detained judges and also restoration of their emoluments. Prime Minister Gilani’s address followed a flurry of activities at the PM House and the Aiwan?e?Sadr. Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani also held meetings with the two leaders.

The Prime Minister said the decision was taken in consultation with the allies. Gilani also greeted Chairman of Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, lawyers, political workers, and civil society on this auspicious occasion and asked them to celebrate the occasion in a befitting manner.

Earlier Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani had a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari late Sunday night that lasted over two hours at the President House. They discussed the prevailing situation and agreed on the restoration of the judiciary as per the commitment to the nation.

It was decided that Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry will replace Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, who is retiring on March 21 and will assume the office of country’s next Chief Justice from March 22, 2009. The President said that the remaining judges of the superior court will be also reinstated.

President Zardari said that he has always maintained that the judges sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf will be reinstated, without disturbing the present judges. In the same spirit the number of judges for the Supreme Court were increased through legislation to accommodate the reinstated judges, without disturbing the present judges.

After the meeting with Prime Minister President also summoned a meeting of his political advisors to discuss the political situation. President said he will hold separate meetings with the party Central Executive Committee, the PPP candidates nominated in the previous election and the youth wing of the party for dialogue.

He also telephoned MQM leader Altaf Hussain, ANP leader Asfandyar Wali and JUI?F leader Maulana Fazalur Rehman and took them into confidence on the decisions to restore the deposed Chief Justice.

The meeting was attended by Senior PPP leader and Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Minister for Defence Ahmed Mukhtar, Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik, Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister for Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan, Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Kazmi and President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar.

The federal capital in the past few days witnessed hectic activity as the US and British ambassadors and politicians including JUI?F leader Maulana Fazalur Rehman and ANP Leader Asfandyar Wali met the PML?N leader Nawaz Sharif and played a key role to end the crisis.

Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was appointed as the 20th Chief Justice of Pakistan by former President Gen. Pervez Musharraf on May 7, 2005. However he was suspended by Musharraf onMarch 9, 2007 and was reinstated by order of the Supreme Court on July 20, 2007.

On November 3, 2007, Chief of the Army Staff General Musharraf suspended the Constitution and declared a state of emergency. Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Pakistan and Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was put under house arrest.-APP

PESHAWAR: NWFP Senior Minister and Parliamentary Leader of ANP Bashir Ahmad Bilour has said that his party government will continue rendering any sacrifices for peace in the region and prosperity of the people as he said we want welfare of the poor.

He said provincial government will ensure the uniform development of the nook and corner of the province besides endeavoring for restoration of durable peace wherein result oriented steps are being taken including the judicious and transparent use of the available resources and seeking assistance of the centre.

He was talking to a delegation of Kalam Swat led by Syed Jafar Shah MPA. The delegation apprised the Senior Minister of the problem and grievances of the people of their respective areas, eulogized the policies and concrete steps of the provincial government for peace and progress in the province and assured their fullest cooperation in this regard.

Bashir Bilour assured the delegation of providing bulldozers for clearance of roads in Kalam and appointment of PTC teachers and class-IV employees at union council level whereas issued directives to the concerned authorities. He said that the ANP government would respect mandate of the people and would never betray their confidence at any level but would come up to their aspirations accordingly.

While commenting on section 144 he condemned imposition of section 144 in Peshawar adding that the law has been enforced without his knowledge. Bilour held the establishment responsible for enforcement of the law to defame the provincial government. “We are opposed to the enforcement of 144 and Chief Minister Amir Hyder Hoti has recently condemned it,” Bilour added.-SANA

ABBOTTABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has said that the imposition of section 144 by the government cannot halt the masses flood and the conspirators will have to rush from the scene. Addressing to public procession on Wednesday at Abbottabad he urged the people’s of the four provinces including Azad Kashmir and FATA to come out from their houses to get the long march succeeded.

He said “if we compromise with the government then we can establish our government in Punjab but we prefer the country’s interests”. He said that if the current system continues then it will be difficult to save Pakistan and PML-N will not compromise in this setup at any cost.

He further stated that the people who were talking about his insurgency but in reality the same mutiny were injected in their own spirits. Sharif said that the circumstances in the state were extremely at stake and the president Zardari was still busy in breaking the government. “We want to set up significant political tradition in the country and proud of our Hazara division’s leaders who turn down 60 millions and stick to their stance” he added.

He stated that the system was worsening day by day and it is the obligation of the politicians and the masses to safeguard the country and they can change the history. He further stated that it was expected to resolve the issues according to the masses’ will soon after the election and the candles would be lit in the poor’s houses but all the dreams of the poor have been shattered. He said that he hopefully inked the Charter of Democracy with Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif catered to his promises and he did not back out his promises like Zardari.-SANA

ISLAMABAD: The Punjab administration imposed Section 144 on several districts of Punjab yesterday banning public rallies and political gatherings. The move aims to pre-empt long march by lawyers backed by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (N), Tehrik-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami, scheduled for tomorrow.

A spokesman for Punjab Governor Salman Taseer said the administration had to clamp Section 144 due to security threats. There has been a major bureaucratic reshuffle in Punjab that saw many senior police officers and district management administrators made “officers on special duty” or elevated to important posts.

Travelers coming from Lahore through the Grand Trunk Road or the Motorway were not allowed to enter Islamabad. The government has so far not arrested any parliamentarian from the opposition but party activists in some districts have been arrested. President of PML (N) Shahbaz Sharif said his party was waging a struggle for the restoration of real democracy in the country.

Speaking at a news conference with senior party leaders here, he said: “We are making efforts for the restoration of the judiciary at its pre-Nov. 3 position.”

The former Punjab chief minister directed party workers not to damage public or private properties and keep their protest peaceful. He also accused the Interior Ministry adviser Rehman Malik of pilfering Rs.500 million from the national exchequer.

Malik, meanwhile, told reporters, “We are only taking preventive measures and our actions should not be considered political victimization.-SANA