PESHAWAR, Aug 23: Political parties on Thursday lauded the Supreme Court’s judgment of lifting a ban on former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s and his brother Shahbaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan. They said the verdict would set course for restoration of real democracy in the country.

The Pakistan People’s Party termed the SC judgment a positive move towards a bright future of the country which had to endure the despotism of three military dictators over the last 60 years.

PPP provincial president Rahimdad Khan said it was a big success for the patriotic and democratic forces which had challenged the arbitrary decision of military rulers.

He said the judiciary had set aside the unlawful, unconstitutional and immoral action of the Musharraf-led government. He said the PPP considered it a victory of the truth. He expressed the hope that the government would accept the decision and pave the way for early return of democratic rule in the country.

Awami National Party central vice-president Haji Mohammad Adeel said the judiciary had rejected the rule of might and allowed the law to take its course against the usurpers.

He said his party had always opposed the arbitrary agreements concluded under the barrel of guns. He said the military rule had no place in the civilised world and the apex court’s decision should be enough for the rulers to learn a lesson from it. He said it was a victory for the people who had been opposing the despotic rule for the last many years.

Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal MNA Shabir Ahmed Khan said the judgment was a good sign for the political forces and future of the country. He said the Supreme Court had rejected the rule of guns and allowed the decency to prevail. “The court has provided relief to the victims of arrogance and suppression.” Mr Shabir said that it was time for the government to quit.

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) provincial secretary Anwar Kamal Khan said the decision had belied the official claims that Nawaz Sharif had gone into exile under a secret deal.

He said the days of doctrine of necessity had gone and now the nation was behind the judiciary. After the restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry by the Supreme Court it was expected that the judiciary would establish the rule of law, he said, adding that it was a historic decision and it would unfold new vistas for the nation.