Pak govt mature in accepting CJ verdict: Kasuri

REINSTATED! The CJ's defiance was the greatest challenge for Musharraf since he came to power eight years ago.

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Keywords: Supreme Court, Musharraf

New Delhi: Pakistan's suspended Chief Justice, Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was reinstated on Friday when the Supreme Court's special Bench ruled that his suspension was unlawful and illegal.

Musharraf had suspended Chaudhry in March this year for allegedly misusing his position and benefiting financially from his office.

The court also invalidated the presidential reference against Chaudhry. While the reinstatement order was unanimous, the verdict about the invalidation of the presidential reference was a 10-3 majority decision.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, who is in Islamabad said, "It's very stupid to think in terms of victory and defeat because I would say it's a victory for Pakistan's majority. The judgement, having been delivered by the Supreme Court, the government has not wasted a minute in accepting it and has shown maturity as well as majority."

"The judgement also shows that Pakistan has very strong institutions, a strong judiciary, a very strong press, very strong civil society organisations and I think this talks a lot that those who were saying that the government would not accept or would think of not accepting it whole-heartedly must remember what President Musharraf had said and has said at least 100 times since the reference was filed, that he would abide by the judgment of the Supreme Court," he added.

Chaudhry's March 9 suspension had sparked protests by lawyers and opposition parties that grew into a powerful pro-democracy movement.

Chaudhry became a symbol of resistance to Musharraf after refusing to quit in the face of pressure from the President and his intelligence chiefs, and was lionised by supporters in rallies round the country.

The Chief Justice's defiance created the greatest challenge to Musharraf since he came to power in a coup eight years ago, and his reinstatement could create problems for Musharraf's plans for re-election for a second five-year term in the coming months.

The Chief Justice has already started functioning from his home on Saturday. He will be re-joining the Supreme Court officially on Monday.