ISLAMABAD, 22 July 2007 — Pakistan’s reinstated top judge Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry began his first full day back in office yesterday. Chaudhry, 59, started back in his old job the minute the verdict was announced on Friday by the Supreme Court, which unanimously ruled that Musharraf had suspended the judge on March 9 “illegally.”
“Consequent upon the decision of the 13-member bench, I have assumed the charge of my office at 4:20 p.m.,” read an order issued by the chief justice.
The court had also dismissed, by a majority verdict, charges of misconduct and abuse of power against Chaudhry, including that he obtained a senior police post for his son.
He formed different benches to hear various cases of vital importance. His name has been placed on the official website of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
The moment he resumed his responsibilities he restored the registrar of the top court Dr. Faqir Hussain who was replaced by Muhammad Ali.
In courts across Pakistan lawyers celeberated Saturday as thanksgiving day and pledged to work extra half an hour to expedite many pending cases delayed during the lawyers’ struggle from March 9 to July 20. In Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Multan lawyers brought out rallies shouting victory slogans.
The chief justice will visit his hometown of Quetta on July 28. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz chaired a meeting of his Cabinet here yesterday to review the situation after the reinstatement of Chaudhry.
