March triumphs, Justice gets justice
* Lifts Section 144, orders release of all political workers
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani early on Monday announced the reinstatement of all sacked judges, including Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, after the retirement of Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar on March 21.
In a brief address to the nation at 5:50am, the prime minister said he, in consultation with President Asif Zardari, had decided the time had come to fulfil “the promises”. “I announce that all judges including Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry will be reinstated on March 21,” he said, adding that a notification to this effect would be issued today. The prime minister said it was not possible to reinstate Chaudhry while Dogar was still in office as chief justice. He recalled that former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had also struggled for the reinstatement of the sacked judges, and that the Pakistan People’s Party and the government also wanted the restoration. Gilani did not mention how the sacked judges would be reinstated, or whether the number of judges would be increased.
The prime minister also announced that the government would file a review petition in the Supreme Court against the decision of a three-member bench to disqualify Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif. However, the prime minister did not mention any timeline for the removal of governor’s rule in the Punjab. Gilani invited all political parties to work together for the implementation of the CoD. However, he did not refer to the repeal of the 17th Amendment. Gilani ordered the provincial governments to immediately lift Section 144 and to release all political workers arrested in connection with the long march. The announcements came following a marathon session between President Asif Ali Zardari, Gilani and General Ashfaq Kayani. zulfiqar ghuman and irfan ghauri
