Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to the channel, Chaudhry held the interior secretary, the commissioner, the deputy commissioner and the assistant commissioner responsible for his house arrest. He said he was still the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the official residence was his by right. Just after general elections in February, on 24 March 2008, on his first day of premiership the Pakistani PM Yousaf Raza Gillani ordered Chaudhry's release from house arrest. In October 2008, Chaudhry visited the Supreme Court building. The Lawyers' Movement announced a "long march" for the restoration of the judges, especially Chief Justice Iftikhar from 12 to 16 March 2009.
Suspension of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Council Tuesday adjourned hearing of presidential reference against non-functional chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry till 13 April. Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, leading lawyer assisting the non-functional Chief Justice in the reference, gave his arguments for open trial in the SJC proceedings, which were continued for an hour. He argued against in-camera hearing of the reference. Barrister Wasim Sajjad and former minister of law Khalid Ranjha appeared before the SJC on behalf of the government. Attorney General Makhdoom Ali Khan appeared on behalf of the SJC on court notice. The lawyers and opposition parties' leaders and activists gathered in large number outside