Pakistani government to restore judges sacked by Musharraf (1st Lead)

Aug 19, 2008, 7:34 GMT

Islamabad - Pakistan's government plans to reinstate dozens of senior judges who were sacked by former president Pervez Musharraf, a cabinet minister said Tuesday.

The announcement was expected to be made after a meeting of ruling coalition leaders, including Asif Ali Zardari of the Pakistan Peoples' Party and Nawaz Sharif from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

'The decision on the judges will be taken and announced today,' Law Minister Farooq Naek told reporters in parliament Tuesday, one day after Musharraf resigned.

Javed Hashmi, a senior PML-N leader also confirmed the plans.

'The reinstatement of judges has been decided. It is still to be settled when they will be restored, today or tomorrow,' he said. 'I am sure they will be restored today.'

He said the nation was eager to see the judges restored to their offices.

Musharraf removed more than 60 judges under an emergency order on November 3, just as the Supreme Court was set to rule against his election for a second presidential term.

The desperate move led to the political demise of the retired army general, who stepped down Monday to avoid impeachment in parliament by the governing coalition.

The resignation was immediately accepted, and Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro took charge as caretaker president. Thousands of people took to the streets Monday night, celebrating with dance and fireworks.

Coalition leaders are also negotiating over who will succeed Musharraf as president.

Zardari, the widower of slain ex-premier Benazir Bhutto, indicated that the next president would be from his Pakistan People's Party, which has the most seats in parliament.

Another critical issue to be decided by the coalition is whether to grant legal immunity to Musharraf or prosecute him in a court of law. PML-N is expected to press for prosecution.

'When an elected prime minister is ousted, he is subjected to execution, prison or exile. But when a dictator leaves, he is presented the guard of honor,' said Hashmi. 'We want his trial.'

The US-based Human Rights Watch also asked the government to hold Musharraf accountable for his 'crimes.'

'Musharraf's brazen disrespect for human rights and the rule of law for nearly a decade has finally caught up with him,' Ali Dayan Hasan, South Asia researcher for the organization said in a statement.

'By undoing Musharraf's unlawful acts and holding him to account for his crimes, the Pakistani government will advance human rights and national security in the country,' he added.

According to a latest poll by Gallup Pakistan, the local affiliate of Gallup International, a large majority of Pakistanis want the former president's prosecution.

The results of the survey conducted on Monday immediately after Musharraf's resignation showed that 65 per cent support holding a proper trial, while only 26 per cent were in favor of the 'forgive and forget' option.

The sample size was approximately 560 men and women statistically chosen from major urban areas of the country.