Reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan -- The Supreme Court today banned the country's most popular opposition politician, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, from holding elected office, a verdict that could trigger prolonged political upheaval in Pakistan.
Sharif's supporters angrily protested the ruling, saying they do not recognize the legitimacy of the high court. They repeated demands for the reinstatement of the former chief justice and other senior judges dismissed by ex-President Pervez Musharraf in late 2007 during a bout of de facto martial law.
Sharif's supporters angrily protested the ruling, saying they do not recognize the legitimacy of the high court. They repeated demands for the reinstatement of the former chief justice and other senior judges dismissed by ex-President Pervez Musharraf in late 2007 during a bout of de facto martial law.
"This is a mockery of justice, a mockery of democracy," said Ahsan Iqbal, a senior leader of Sharif's party. "This decision has once again pushed Pakistan on the path of political confrontation and political instability."
The former prime minister's brother, Shahbaz Sharif, was also disqualified by the high court from holding office, effectively removing him from his position as chief minister of Punjab, the country's most populous province.
In the streets of Lahore, the eastern city that is the Sharifs' power base, their supporters took to the streets, burning tires and chanting anti-government slogans.
The former prime minister's brother, Shahbaz Sharif, was also disqualified by the high court from holding office, effectively removing him from his position as chief minister of Punjab, the country's most populous province.
In the streets of Lahore, the eastern city that is the Sharifs' power base, their supporters took to the streets, burning tires and chanting anti-government slogans.
Even before today's (WED's) verdict, tensions had been growing between Sharif and the shaky civilian government led by Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
After parliamentary elections a year ago, Sharif's party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, entered into a coalition with Zardari's Pakistan People's Party, but quit last year after bitter disagreements with Zardari over the fate of the fired judges.
A nationwide lawyers' movement, which was instrumental in driving Musharraf from office and ending military rule in Pakistan, has already vowed to hold massive street demonstrations next month demanding the restoration of the previous judiciary. Today's (WED's) ruling was considered likely to galvanize public support for both the lawyers and Sharif.
"The political ramifications will be felt for many months to come," said Zaffar Abbas, editor of the influential Dawn newspaper. "We may be looking for a very long, drawn-out battle between the government and the opposition forces led by Nawaz Sharif."
Zain Shaikh, a constitutional expert, said the Sharif brothers had limited scope for any judicial review of the high court's verdict. But officials of Zardari's party suggested some kind of reconciliation with Sharif might still be possible.
"We will have to see how to work together," said Farzana Raja, a leader of the Pakistan People's Party.
The renewed turmoil comes at a time when the government is confronting a burgeoning Islamic insurgency. But Zardari and other senior leaders appear conflicted over how to deal with the threat posed by militants who have waged a concerted campaign of suicide bombings and other attacks across Pakistan.
Although the government has expressed determination to do battle with insurgents, it has recently entered into truces with the Taliban in two volatile areas, the Swat Valley north of Islamabad and the Bajaur tribal agency, along the Afghan border.
Those cease-fires have caused concern among Western leaders who fear the militants inside Pakistan will be able to carve out larger safe havens from which to launch attacks against NATO troops in Afghanistan.
After parliamentary elections a year ago, Sharif's party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, entered into a coalition with Zardari's Pakistan People's Party, but quit last year after bitter disagreements with Zardari over the fate of the fired judges.
A nationwide lawyers' movement, which was instrumental in driving Musharraf from office and ending military rule in Pakistan, has already vowed to hold massive street demonstrations next month demanding the restoration of the previous judiciary. Today's (WED's) ruling was considered likely to galvanize public support for both the lawyers and Sharif.
"The political ramifications will be felt for many months to come," said Zaffar Abbas, editor of the influential Dawn newspaper. "We may be looking for a very long, drawn-out battle between the government and the opposition forces led by Nawaz Sharif."
Zain Shaikh, a constitutional expert, said the Sharif brothers had limited scope for any judicial review of the high court's verdict. But officials of Zardari's party suggested some kind of reconciliation with Sharif might still be possible.
"We will have to see how to work together," said Farzana Raja, a leader of the Pakistan People's Party.
The renewed turmoil comes at a time when the government is confronting a burgeoning Islamic insurgency. But Zardari and other senior leaders appear conflicted over how to deal with the threat posed by militants who have waged a concerted campaign of suicide bombings and other attacks across Pakistan.
Although the government has expressed determination to do battle with insurgents, it has recently entered into truces with the Taliban in two volatile areas, the Swat Valley north of Islamabad and the Bajaur tribal agency, along the Afghan border.
Those cease-fires have caused concern among Western leaders who fear the militants inside Pakistan will be able to carve out larger safe havens from which to launch attacks against NATO troops in Afghanistan.
