Govt accepts SC verdict to reinstate Justice Chaudhry: Aziz

Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz today said that the government has accepted the Supreme Courts decision to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Islamabad, July 20 : Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz today said that the government has accepted the Supreme Court's decision to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

"I have just learnt of the Supreme Court decision. I have always maintained that the decision by the honourable court must be accepted by all sections of the people, including the government itself," Aziz said in a statement.

However, he added that it was not the time to claim "victory or defeat."

"This is not the time to claim victory or defeat. The constitution and the law have prevailed and must prevail at all times," Aziz said.

Earlier in the day, in a historic decision, reversing years of judicial compliance to the executive, a 13-member full bench of the apex court declared the March 9 suspension order on Justice Chaudhry as unconstitutional and restored his designation to him.

The Supreme Court decision came during the hearing of an appeal by Chaudhry against his suspension by President Pervez Musharraf.

"The reference of the President dated March 9, 2007 is set aside," The News quoted presiding judge Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday as telling the court. He said the panel of judges had reached a 10-3 decision in Chaudhry's favour after a 43-day hearing.

"As a further consequence, the petitioner, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, shall be deemed to be holding the said office and shall always be deemed to have been so holding the same," he added.

Meanwhile, massive celebrations by lawyers, who spent the day waiting outside the court for the verdict, were seen across the country.

The lawyers of Karachi termed the decision as an "historic" one and a gift for the people.

When the Supreme Court bench announced the decision to reinstate the Chief Justice and quash the presidential reference against him, all lawyers joyfully shouted slogans and the Bar room echoed with their slogans, and later distributed sweets.

ANI