The lawyers and political activists kicked off their "long march" on March 12, and planned to reach Islamabad Monday to stage sit-in pressing for the government to restore the judges including Chaudhry sacked in November 2007 when then-President Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency.
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Supporters of restored Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry hold a celebration outside his residence in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, March 16, 2009. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday announced the restoration of all judges including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry deposed in 2007, in a bid to end political turmoil in the country. [Rao Bo/Xinhua]
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Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, also chief of opposition party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), spearheaded the procession from eastern city of Lahore to Islamabad after defying a detention order issued by the local administration.
Sharif has called off the "long march" and sit-in after the government's decision to restore the chief justice.
Sharif congratulated the whole nation over the reinstatement of deposed judges, saying the restoration of chief justice is a big success and a prelude to positive change.
A large number of political activists and lawyers rushed to the residence of the former chief justice to celebrate his restoration.
Pakistan plunged into another political turmoil just one year after the new government, led by Pakistan People's Party (PPP), took office.
Sharif and Zardari, also the PPP co-chairman, broke up last August after Zardari refused to reinstate the chief justice.
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A Supporter of restored Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry walks past the posters of Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (R) and his brother outside Chaudhry's residence in Islambad, capital of Pakistan, March 16, 2009. Supporters of restored Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry hold a celebration outside his residence in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, March 16, 2009. Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Monday announced the restoration of all judges including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry deposed in 2007, in a bid to end political turmoil in the country. [Rao Bo/Xinhua]
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(Xinhua News Agency March 17, 2009)