by Catherine Soulé

News Editor

      March 22 marked the return of Islamabad’s top judge, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, to Oakistan’s Supreme Court after being fired by former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. Chaudry was responsible for routine duties prior to his removal, including approving hearing dates and appointing panels of jurists. He was fired in 2007 after the indepently-minded judge began looking into cases that had the potential to embarrass the Pakistani military leader or posed a threat to Msharraf’s election for a second term.

     Following his dismisal, many protests ensued, led by activist lawyers who encouraged the former president to resign. The newly elected president, Asif Ali Zardari, delayed in bringing Chaudry back as a justice because of fears that he himself would be examined or prosecuted for corruption claims. Zardari gave in when activists marched to the capital, planning an indefinite sit-in at Parliament. Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani announced the return of several other justices fired in 2007 under Musharraf should be imminent, in addition to the release of activists arrested over the past week.

    A celebratory flag ceremony was planned at Chaudry’s home following the day of his return to office. Close attention will be paid to his cases, especially those involving political leaders. However, protesting lawyer Ali Ahmad, among others, noted, “no country can progress without an independent judiciary and the government—by restoring the chief justice and other judges—has also realized it, and we think it is a big success.” (Sources: msnbc, washingtonpost)