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Top court reinstates Pakistani judge in blow to Musharraf

Pakistan's Supreme Court yesterday reinstated the country's chief justice and quashed misconduct charges filed against him by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, in a major blow for the military ruler.

The ruling sparked massive celebrations by lawyers who had spent the day waiting outside the court for the verdict on Chaudhry, who has become an icon of opposition to the embattled Musharraf.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the government accepted the decision but added it was "not the time to claim victory or defeat."

"The reference of the president dated March 9, 2007, is set aside," presiding judge Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday told the court, announcing a 10-3 verdict.

"As a further consequence the petitioner, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, shall be deemed to be holding the said office and shall always be deemed to have been so holding the same," he said.

Chaudhry has been showered with flower petals at mass rallies against Musharraf, who -- in addition to facing the judicial crisis -- is struggling to curb a wave of militant attacks sparked by last week's raid on the Red Mosque.

The president, who took power in a 1999 coup, suspended Chaudhry in March, following allegations that the judge abused his position, notably to obtain a top police job for his son and other privileges for himself.

Chaudhry's supporters say Musharraf suspended the judge because he could have kept him from maintaining his grip on power and because he took on cases about people allegedly abducted by Pakistan's intelligence agencies.

Security was intense around the court building and government installations in central Islamabad after a suicide blast killed 17 people at a pro-Chaudhry rally in the capital on Tuesday.

Musharraf's action against the independent-minded judge sparked what quickly became the biggest challenge to his eight-year rule, with mass pro-democracy protests and political violence in Karachi that left more than 40 dead.

In a statement issued shortly after the verdict, the country's prime minister said the constitution and the law "have prevailed and must prevail at all times."

"I have just learnt of the Supreme Court decision. I have always maintained that the decision by the honorable court must be accepted by all sections of the people including the government itself," Aziz said. "This is not the time to claim victory or defeat."

Musharraf, the president and army chief, hopes to get himself re-elected in uniform by the outgoing parliament this year, defying the Constitution, which says he should quit as head of the military by the end of this year.

General elections are due no later than early next year.

Musharraf in March sent the misconduct and abuse of power charges against the chief justice to a special panel called the Supreme Judicial Council.

The Supreme Court suspended the panel's inquiry in May, after Chaudhry appealed against both the allegations and the legality of his suspension while the claims were dealt with.

Tensions around the case have soared since Tuesday's blast in Islamabad.

Authorities say a suicide bomber blew himself up at a rally where Chaudhry was due to make the latest in a series of nationwide public appearances.
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