After a Violent Day in Pakistan,

Zardari Backs Down

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Even by Pakistan's standards, where violence has routinely scarred the landscape, the scenes were startling. For several hours on Sunday, the heart of this eastern city was witness to street battles as baton-wielding police mounted a fierce but ultimately failed attempt to crush a gathering of anti-government lawyers and political activists.

As the country's enduring political confrontation entered its decisive phase, President Asif Ali Zardari pressed on with his crackdown on opposition groups in a bid to thwart a "long march" for the reinstatement of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. After hundreds of arrests and accusations of a media clampdown, police blocked off Lahore's main thoroughfares as orders were reportedly issued to confine former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and other political leaders to house arrest.
When it was all over, however, the Zardari government appeared to back down.

Govt agrees to reinstate Iftikhar Chaudhry

Gilani announces restoration of deposed chief judge.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday morning 5:00 AM announced in his television address that the government had decided to reinstate the country’s Supreme Court chief justice in a bid to end political turmoil.
Main opposition leader Nawaz Sharif has been locked in a showdown with President Asif Ali Zardari demanding the reinstatement of the top judge, who was sacked by ex-military ruler Pervez Musharraf in 2007.

‘I announce today that Iftikhar Chaudhry and all other deposed judges will be reinstated from March 21,’ Gilani said in a televised address to the nation.The current Supreme Court chief justice will retire on that date, allowing Chaudhry to take over, the premier said.

Sharif calls off ‘long march’ protest

PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif on Monday said he had agreed to call off a mass protest march after the government decided to reinstate the deposed chief justice.

‘We are now calling off this long march,’ he said from inside his SUV, showered with pink rose petals and stranded in a sea of jubilant supporters in the central city of Gujranwala.
He said the decision had been taken following discussions with lawyers and leaders of allied political parties, such as Imran Khan.

‘Today the nation has received very happy news. We have said that we will restore the judges and the independent judiciary and by the grace of Allah we have achieved it,’ he said.
‘Very soon we will play our role in implementing real democracy in this country,’ he added.