Newly-elected Pakistani premier Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday ordered the release of all judges detained after President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule last year. “I order all the detained judges to be released immediately,” Gilani, a key aide of slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, told parliament just moments after the National Assembly voted him in as premier. Immediately after Gilani's announcement, police started removing barbed wires outside the houses of chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary and other judges. Later, Chaudhary emerged on the balcony of his residence after four months of house arrest and waved to the cheering crowds. The assembly voted 264 to 42 to confirm Gilani over Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, a pro-Musharraf candidate. He will be sworn in Tuesday by Musharraf. Gilani shook the hand of Bhutto's son, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who wiped tears from his face and smiled. Cheers of ‘Long live Bhutto, BB is still alive!” rang out through parliament. “Democracy has been revived due to the sacrifice of Benazir Bhutto,” said Gilani, 55. He said his first move would be to ask the National Assembly to pass a resolution seeking a UN probe into Bhutto's death. “We didn't get here out of charity. This moment came because of continued struggle and martyrdom,” he said. He said the Lower House should also pass a resolution to apologize to the Pakistani nation for hanging of Benazir's father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. “Yesterday's opposition has become today's government due to the continuous struggle and sacrifices rendered by PPP workers. When there is consensus, we will be successful in overcoming the challenges facing the country.” Gilani emphasized the significance of rule of law and strengthening of institutions and the independence of media. “We will take the opposition along and respect their points of view as well as positive criticism.” Gilani would form a new government dominated by the president's foes, who vow to slash his sweeping powers and review his counterterrorism policies. - With input from Agencies __
