Pakistan Muslim League-N Quaid Mian Nawaz Sharif on Monday said he was hopeful that after the decision of restoration of deposed judges, the charter of democracy would now be followed in letter and spirit. He was addressing the long march rally, here near old railway station, after Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilanis address to the nation in which he announced restoration of all the deposed judges.
He extended his felicitations to President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani, saying they truly deserved congratulation. He said the long marchs target for independence of judiciary and restoration of deposed judges, had been achieved. "Therefore the long march and Dharna are being called off," he told a cheering and jubilant crowd.
Nawaz said the two-year struggle of lawyers and the promises made with the nation before elections had materialised and in this historic achievement the nation also contributed its full share. He said with this landmark achievement his party PML-N now stood triumphant before the nation. He paid rich tributes to the untiring efforts of lawyers and their struggle led by Supreme Court Bar Association President Ali Ahmed Kurd and their leader Aitzaz Ahsan.
He hoped that Prime Minister Gilani and President Zardari, after the restoration of judges, would now follow the Charter of Democracy for strengthening democracy, supremacy of parliament and independence of judiciary. Nawaz hoped that the country would see a positive change and would be set once again on the road to progress and development.
He also felicitated the people of Gujranwala on the occasion, saying, while the long march participants were in this city the historic decision for restoration of judges was announced.
Later, lawyers leader Chaudhry Atizaz Ahsan addressing the gathering said that restoration of judges was a major triumph of the struggle of the nation. The size and spirit of the long march had convinced him that the rally would neither turn back nor it could be stopped, he added. He said the development that was expected to take place on March 21 materialised on March 16. He said that after this milestone decision he talked to Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry who expressed thanks to the entire nation.