Report: Pakistan to reinstate top judge to ease tensions (Extra)

Mar 15, 2009, 21:35 GMT

Islamabad - Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was early Monday expected to announce the reinstatement of the country's top judge ahead of intense protests that threatened instability in the nuclear-armed nation, media reports said.

Senior opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told Urdu- language Geo News television that Gilani was to make the announcement in a televised address to the nation.

'We have been informed by the prime minister that he is going to restore the judges,' Khan told the news channel.

Former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and his colleagues were sacked in November 2007 under emergency rule proclaimed by then president and military strongman Pervez Musharraf.

His removal triggered a mass movement against Musharraf, resulting in the defeat of his political allies in last year's elections, and ending his around nine-year military rule.

President Asif Ali Zardari, who replaced Musharraf, initially promised to reinstate the sacked top judge, but did not do so later on, turning himself into a highly unpopular political figure.

The expected reinstatement of Chaudhry came as tens of thousands of people were heading towards Islamabad in a massive protest rally from the eastern city of Lahore for a sit-in for an independent judiciary.

The rally dubbed the 'Long March' is headed by two-time prime minister and opposition leader Nawaz Sharif.

The demonstration triggered fears of civil unrest in Pakistan, a key ally in the international fight against terrorism, raising concerns in Washington and other Western capital, which have intervened to defuse political tensions.

Pakistan's army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani also held separate meetings with Gilani and Zardari on the political situation. He has pressed the two leaders for a deal with the opposition and to avert instability.

A member of Gilani's cabinet confirmed that the prime minister's address was about the 'restoration of judges.'

'The nation will hear a good news in few hours,' deputy minister for ports and shipping Nabeel Gabool said.

He attributed the movements to 'America, Army and Allah (God).'