ISLAMABAD: The lawyersí fraternity expressed its optimism that President-elect Asif Ali Zardari would immediately announce restoration of all the deposed judges, including deposed Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Talking to APP, Vice Chairman Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) Saeed-ur-Rahman said drastic steps were required to change the stalemate being experienced by the countrymen in different spheres of life.

He stressed that change should not only take place with mere departure of personalities but it should be real and policy-oriented change.

He said the judges of superior judiciary were removed by the ësole rulerí for ìtheir mere faultî of taking notice of gross human rights violations.

The PBC leader said if president-elect Asif Ali Zardari restored the deposed judges on their pre-November 2007 position, it will enhance his stature and image.

General Secretary SCBA, Chaudhry Amin Javed said the election to the office of President was the prerogative of the Electoral College and the lawyersí

community respected their mandate.

He said: “Our relations with the government depend upon its regard for the judiciary, though we differ with the restoration process of the deposed judges. However, we will welcome if all the deposed judges are restored immediately, including deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to his office.”

He said the SCBA would welcome the announcement of the President-elect in this regard and would even extend its cooperation.

Chaudhry Amin told another questioner that balance of power between the Parliament and the President was must for true democracy.

The controversial 17th Amendment and Article 58-2 (B) should be done away without any delay, as in democratic form of government these powers should vest with the prime minister, he added.

President Islamabad Bar Association Haroon-ur-Rashid commented that they respected the decision of the Electoral College and hope that all the deposed judges, including Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry would be restored to their offices.

President Rawalpindi Bar Association Sardar Asmatullah said the lawyersí community had no objection over the

Mandate of the Electoral College to elect Asif Ali Zardari as President of Pakistan, as they firmly believed in democracy.

He said their only concern was restoration of the deposed judges and wanted that promises over the issue be fulfilled.

Sardar also differed with the mechanism through which the deposed judges were restored. He expressed the hope that President-elect Asif Ali Zardari would use his powers and restore all the deposed judges,

including Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

ìOur movement was against former president Pervez Musharraf for his November 3, 2007 move,î he said and added that the lawyers would continue to fight the cause of deposed judges.