This is a magnificent day for Pakistan, after so many problems and dashed hopes. It is a major boon to those Pakistanis, and it may surprise the West to know they form the overwhelming majority, who passionately believe that democracy and the rule of law are the only guarantors of Pakistan's development and prosperity. Now the generals should return to barracks and be accountable to a civilian government elected freely by all Pakistan's citizens. The cure to extremism is proper representation and justice for all Pakistan's many disparate minorities, not the army acting as judge, jury and executioner. Finally, Pakistanis must recognise real heroes are not people willing to blow themselves and murder others but calm men like the chief justice who steadfastly resist pressure and win over others through shear force of argument.

Haroon Abbasi, London,

Musharraf has lost all legitimacy to continue as the President of Pakistan after the Supreme Court's verdict. The longer he remains in office, the greater will be the damage to the interests of Pakistan. He had initially imposed his "election" as President by resorting to dubious means and corrupt electoral practices, and was trying to find ways and means to get himself "re-elected" for another 5-year term. The attempt to suspend and remove the Chief Justice was an important part of his re-election "strategy", but this back-fired and the "Emperor" was caught red handed in the game.
There is NO MORAL justification now left for him to continue as President even a minute longer, and he must go.

Hats off to the strategy devised by his legal team. That a "suspended" Chief Justice should appear as a litigant before his own court and secure a favorable verdict was unprecedented, but then "Man proposes, God disposes."

attenuation, Dubai, UAE

General Musharraf’s decision to suspend Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has backfired. As these military rulers have always been bullying Judges to get verdict in their favour, General Musharraf never thought that this judge, known as Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, will say no to him. He must have had shock of his life when Justice Iftikhar refused to succumb to his and his general's threats.

This is a landmark and unique judgement and will be remembered in annals of the supreme court as a bold judgement against the powerful establishment.

General Musharraf should now devise an exit strategy so that he is not thrown out with further humiliation and disgrace from the public and its supporting judiciary.

I will liken Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry as Robin Hood of Pakistan.

B.A. Solangi, Ilford, UK

I hope Pakistan's women take an active role in the coming democracy. They must seize the moment or be left behind.

Emma H., Ottawa, CAN.

Ultimately it is not about Democracy.

This is about right wing ideologues being able to distribute nuclear weapons. How long do you think democracy will last then?

john, Oxford, UK

The bedrock of a civilized society is an impartial and fair judiciary. In Pakistan, the judiciary fro ground up is corrupt and can be easily bought. This seems to have been conveniently forgotten whilst focusing on this case.

Hamad lone, Thornton Heath, England

The reinstatement of the Chief Justice should lead to the departure of General Musharaff. He must also face trail for committing high treason for overthrowing an elected government of Mian Nawaz Sharif in 19999. Since he came to power by unconstitutional means, all his acts including appointments of the non-academic Vice-chancellors of the universities, should be declared void

Dr. Mehtab Ali Shah
Jamshoro, Sindh

Mehtab Ali Shah, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan