PESHAWAR, Aug 13 The Peshawar High Court on Thursday restored a civil judge cum judicial magistrate, Ijaz Ahmad, who had resigned two years ago in protest against the holding of dual offices by General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

An order was issued by PHC Registrar Qalandar Ali Khan which states “the honourable chief justice and honourable judges are pleased to restore Ijaz Ahmad as civil judge-cum-judicial magistrate and reinstate him into service with effect from Oct 29, 2007, in public interest.”

The period with effect from Oct 29, 2007, up to the date of his assumption of charge is treated as leave of the kind due. “I had resigned for upholding the independence of judiciary and supremacy of the constitution,” he told Dawn adding that the movement for the restoration of the judiciary had given new hope to millions of people.

Mr Ahmad was serving as civil judge at Swabi when he tendered resignation on Sept 29, 2007, with a one-month notice. Following his resignation he joined the lawyers' movement and was considered its active member here.

He had resigned from his post when a full bench of the Supreme Court had dismissed on Sept 28, 2007, some petitions challenging the holding of dual offices by General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

In his resignation he had stated that as a true son of this beloved country, he was duty-bound to play his role, join the legal fraternity and men of principles and resign despite the 'stiff opposition' of his well-wishers and pro-government family members and friends.

“The lawyers, who struggled hard to save the honourable chief justice of Pakistan from being humiliated in order to strengthen the judiciary as an institution, deserve all praise, (and) can't be left alone in their struggle,” he had stated.