Pak SC suspends judgement on Sharif brothers

Islamabad: Easing a major political crisis, the Pakistan Supreme Court on Tuesday restored the PML-N government in Punjab suspending its verdict barring party leaders Nawaz and Shahbaz Sharif from contesting polls and holding public offices.

After the court's order, PML-N leader Raja Zafrul Haq told reporters that Shahbaz "has not only been declared a member of the Punjab assembly but will also again take charge as chief minister of Punjab."

The February 25 ruling of the apex court had sparked massive nationwide protests against the government and President Asif Ali Zardari, who had imposed governor���s rule in the politically crucial province, removing the PML-N administration headed by Shahbaz.

Bowing to domestic and international pressure, the government decided to appeal against the verdict and also reinstated Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry, who was sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf during the 2007 emergency rule, meeting one of the key demands of opposition PML-N. The apex court's decision brought curtains down on a month-long political battle between Sharif���s PML-N and ruling PPP led by Zardari, which plunged the country into political uncertainty.