Pakistan reinstates sacked Chief Justice

Pakistan's Government said yesterday it would reinstate the country's deposed top judge Iftikhar Chaudhry and end a crackdown on the Opposition as it caved in to mass protests and moved to end a damaging political crisis.

Main Opposition Leader Nawaz Sharif welcomed what he called a historic achievement and promptly called off a mass protest march, which had been due to descend on the capital Monday, averting widespread fears of unrest.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's announcement, in a dawn address to the nation, followed overnight talks with President Asif Ali Zardari and the army chief determined to avert chaos in the central front in the "war on terror".

"I announce today that Iftikhar Chaudhry and all other deposed judges will be reinstated from March 21," when the current chief justice retires, he said.

AFP