Pakistan's new prime minister ordered the release of judges detained by President Pervez Musharraf, throwing down the gauntlet to the US-backed leader just minutes after being elected.
Yousaf Raza Gilani, who was a close aide to slain opposition icon Benazir Bhutto, gave the decree today after he was elected overwhelmingly by the lower house of parliament - where an anti-Musharraf coalition now holds a majority.
Hours later, the country's deposed chief justice appeared in public for the first time since Musharraf ordered dozens of judges to be held in November, amid fears they might challenge his grip on power in the nuclear-armed nation.
Legislators cheered and pounded their desks as the 55-year-old Gilani, who himself spent five years in prison under Musharraf's regime, quickly established that he was ready to take on the president.
"Today, democracy has been restored thanks to the great sacrifice of Benazir Bhutto," Gilani said in his first speech to parliament to chants of "Go Musharraf, go" and "Long live Bhutto".
"I order all the detained judges to be released immediately," Gilani said.
You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead. |