Supreme court reinstates suspended Pakistan Chief Justice

Islamabad’s Supreme Court today reinstated Pakistan’s top judge, ruling that his suspension by President Gen. Pervez Musharraf was illegal.

Presiding Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday said Gen. Musharraf’s order suspending the Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry was “set aside as being illegal”.

Chaudhry’s March 9 suspension had sparked protests by lawyers and opposition parties that have grown into a powerful pro-democracy movement just as Musharraf faces a rising tide of Islamic militancy.

The verdict is a major blow to Musharraf’s standing and probably the biggest challenge to his dominance since he seized power in a coup in 1999.

It could further complicate his bid to win a new five-year presidential term this autumn.