Suspension of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry a constitutional court as a check on the Supreme Court". Shahbaz said the decision to join the Free Judiciary movement was a reaction to Zardari ending the PMLN government in Punjab Province. "Acting Chief Justice." "Supreme Judicial Council." the President may remove the Judge from office. However, it is still unclear whether a justice of the highest court of the country can be made ""non-functional"" in view of Article 180 and Article 209 of the Constitution of Pakistan. Audio & Video Suspension of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was made a "non-functional Chief Justice" on
Asif Ali Zardari tried to force his brother Shahbaz Sharif to resign as Chief Minister of Punjab province. Zardari dismissed the Punjab provincial government and only partially reinstated the judiciary by restoring 56 other judges deposed by Musharraf—but not their former leader, Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. After Nawaz Sharif defied house arrest and rallied with thousands of his supporters, the Sharif brothers vowed to join forces with the Lawyers' Movement in the "Long March". Zardari's government gave in to popular pressure and Prime Minister Gilani in an early morning speech on 16 March 2009 promised to reinstate Chaudhry by 21 March. Ten judges