Pakistan’s Supreme Court today reinstated the country's Chief Justice unconditionally in a blow to the Pakistan President, General Pervez Musharraf, who had suspended him.

The historic ruling - the first a Pakistan court has ever made against a military ruler - comes after four months of unrest in Pakistan since Iftikhar Chaudhry's suspension on allegations of misconduct and corruption.

Judge Chaudhry refused to quit, despite pressure from the president and his intelligence chiefs, and became a symbol of resistance to General Musharraf, lionised by supporters in rallies round the country.

Several of the protests turned violent. About 40 people were killed when pro-government activists clashed with opposition supporters as Judge Chaudhry attempted to address a rally of lawyers in Karachi in May.

General Musharraf said today that he accepted the ruling.

“The president has said the judgement of the Supreme Court will be honoured, respected, and adhered to,” said retired Major General Rashid Qureshi, the president's spokesman.

Issuing the ruling after a two-month case, Justice Khalil-ur-Rehman Ramday, the head of the 13-member bench, said: “The reference has been set aside and the chief justice has been reinstated.”

The decision to reinstate Judge Chaudhry was unanimous, but the decision to quash the charges, known as a reference, against him was carried by a 10-3 majority.

Lawyers in court stood and clapped as the decision was read, while shouts of “Go, Musharraf, Go” resounded among the crowded of supporters for the chief justice gathered outside.

In the eastern city of Lahore, around 1,000 lawyers knelt in thanks in front of the High Court, and distributed sweets.

Judge Chaudhry’s defiance has provided one of the greatest challenges to President Musharraf's authority since he came to power in a bloodless military coup eight years ago. His reinstatement could create problems for General Musharraf’s plans for re-election later this year for a second five-year term.

Today's setback comes at a difficult time for the president, after an army operation to crush a militant stronghold at Islamabad’s Red Mosque last week provoked a bloody backlash from Islamist fighters.

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