Pakistan Court Rejects Ouster of Prime Minister
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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Supreme Court restored Pakistan’s ousted government Wednesday, dealing a blow to opposition leader Benazir Bhutto’s dreams of an imminent political comeback.
The judges ruled 10-1 that President Ghulam Ishaq Khan overstepped his constitutional authority April 18 when he dismissed his bitter rival, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and his 30-month-old government on charges of corruption, economic mismanagement and political incompetence.
Bhutto, who was deposed as prime minister by Ishaq Khan on similar charges in 1990, had backed the president in his move against Sharif, believing that new elections scheduled for July 14 would return her to power. But the court decision cancels the vote.
Ishaq Khan said he will “respect the judgment given by the Supreme Court.”
Sharif called the ruling “a historical judgment” that “strengthened the democratic process.”
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