Musharraf Opponents Cheer Legal Victory

President Pervez Musharraf's grip on power weakened suddenly yesterday when Pakistan's supreme court ruled illegal his suspension of the chief justice, and ordered an immediate reinstatement.

Lawyers and civil society activists whooped with joy at the verdict in favor of Muhammad Iftikhar Chaudhry - the first time in Pakistan's 60-year history that a civilian has challenged a military leader in court and won. "This is a defining moment for our country - the first time we have true liberty," said Naseer Ullah Khan, a black-suited lawyer on the courthouse steps, where men embraced, shouted, and chanted, "Go, Musharraf, go".

Supporters rushed to Mr Chaudhry's house, where he simply said: "Thank you. Pray for me." Celebration rallies erupted in several cities.

Gen Musharraf said he would respect the verdict. "The president stated earlier that any judgment the supreme court arrives at will be honored, respected, and adhered to," his spokesman, Rashid Qureshi, told the state press agency.

Expecting a compromise ruling, analysts were surprised by the totality of the victory. "Sixty years of history taught people that this wasn't possible," said a commentator, Ayaz Amir. "All that has been swept aside. It's almost hard to believe."

Mr Chaudhry, a stubborn judge with a tendency to rambling speeches, became an unlikely national hero when Gen Musharraf tried to fire him last March.

A protest movement led by angry lawyers quickly ballooned into a countrywide pro-democracy campaign. Hundreds of thousands came on to the streets for rallies to shower rose petals on to Mr Chaudhry's car and shout anti-military slogans.

Gen Musharraf's support plunged in May after supporters sparked violence at a rally in Karachi which left 40 dead. Yesterday's ruling has jeopardized his plan for a fresh five-year term. A few days ago he declared he would seek re-election under the current parliament, dominated by his supporters, this autumn. Now that plan looks certain to be challenged in the supreme court - which will be headed by a wildly popular judge the general has accused of corruption and ineptitude.

A veteran rights activist, Asma Jahangir, said there was a "clear divide" between civilians and military. "Not only should Musharraf resign, I think he owes this country an apology," she said.

Another potential winner from yesterday is exiled opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. She described it as one of the most remarkable judgments in Pakistan's history; the legal protest had become a "struggle against dictatorship".

Gen Musharraf's headaches are complicated by an alarming domestic security threat. More than 285 people have died since July 3, when the start of the Red Mosque siege in Islamabad triggered a violent backlash from Islamists. Three civilians and a soldier died in the latest suicide attack in North Waziristan yesterday.

Violence also touched the chief justice's supporters, with a bomb at an Islamabad rally last Tuesday killing 18 people.

Gen Musharraf has vowed to defeat the extremists, deploying hundreds of extra soldiers to North-West Frontier Province. His government is also trying to resurrect a peace deal with militants in North Waziristan that collapsed last weekend.

But tension is rising with his key ally, the US, where policymakers this week debated the merits of military strikes against al-Qaida targets inside Pakistan. A foreign ministry spokeswoman said Pakistan could not accept any "indiscriminate action": "Whatever counter-terrorism action is to be taken inside Pakistan, it will be taken by our own security forces."

This week Gen Musharraf ruled out imposing a state of emergency, but fears persist he may resort to drastic action.

"The government should desist from any unconstitutional measures to override the supreme court's verdict," said Ali Dayan Hasan, of Human Rights Watch.