Pakistan Reinstates Judges Sacked By Musharraf

Pakistan today reinstated three supreme court judges sacked by Pervez Musharraf, who was forced to resign as president last month. But the government did not restore Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudry, the outspoken chief justice seen as a symbol of resistance to Musharraf.

The judges were sacked last November, leading to the political crisis that toppled Musharraf.

Farooq Naek, the law minister, said three judges were sworn back in today but not Chaudhry.

The reappointment of the supreme court has been a source of disagreement between Pakistan's two biggest political blocs, the Pakistan People's party (PPP) formerly led by the assassinated Benazir Bhutto and now by her widower, Asif Ali Zardari, and the Muslim League-N, headed by Nawaz Sharif, the former prime minister overthrown by Musharraf in 1999.

Zardari is expected to be voted in as the country's next president tomorrow by members of the two-chamber parliament and four provincial assemblies.

Zardari, who spent 11 years in jail on corruption and other charges but was never convicted, is seen as close to the US and has repeatedly stressed his commitment to the fight against Islamist militants.

He will take office amid widespread anger at the US after a bloody incursion by US ground troops into a remote village on the Afghan border this week. Musharraf saw his popularity plummet in part because he was viewed as too close to the Americans.

Zardari faces a difficult balancing act as he tries to assure the US of his commitment against radicalism while proving his nationalist credentials at home.

His two rivals for president are Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui, a former judge nominated by Sharif's party, and Mushahid Hussain Sayed, a senior official of the party that backed Musharraf and ruled under him.

The PPP has the most electoral college votes and despite some doubts about Zardari's suitability party members are likely to stick by him.