Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zadari was forced on the back foot today by the growing political crisis. The Pakistan government finally announced that the sacked Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry will be reinstated on Saturday. The lawyers, activists and protestors participating in the long march were due to reach Islamabad today.
This is indeed good news for the nation and its people. A nation can never function without proper judiciary. Musharaff’s authoritarian regime had led to sacking of country’s top most judge and other lawyers, activists in 2007. There were country wide protests.
After Zardari took over as President he too was reluctant to reinstate sacked judges fearing a challenge by judiciary. But the huge march of protesters supported by Nawaz Sharif and his brother was the final showdown which almost led to severe political crisis. The government was forced to reconsider their decision. Chief justice will be sworn in on 22nd March.
Protestors, activists, lawyers who took to streets are celebrating this move but the dark shadow of terrorism and Taleban still looms large over Pakistan.
Via Guardian
