ISLAMABAD, May 22 President Asif Ali Zardari restored on Friday four superior court judges to the offices they were holding immediately before the Nov 3, 2007, emergency, enabling them to draw salary for the period they remained deposed or retired.

Two of the judges are sitting judges of the Supreme Court and the other two of high courts. They are Justice Mohammad Sair Ali, Justice Mahmood Akhtar Shahid Siddiqui (Supreme Court), Justice (retd) Mohammad Jehangir Arshad (Lahore High Court) and Justice (retd) Rehmat Hussain Jaffery (Sindh High Court).

On April 14, the president had appointed Justice Syed Zahid Hussain, Justice Ghulam Rabbani, Justice Mohammad Sair Ali and Justice Mahmood Akhtar Shahid Siddiqui as judges of the Supreme Court. They were deposed when former president Pervez Musharraf declared emergency. The decision was taken after the Lahore High Court informed the government that Justice Sair Ali and Justice Shahid Siddiqui, who had ceased to hold office on Nov 3, 2007, had not received salary for the intervening period from Nov 4, 2007, to Dec 11, 2008, and from Nov 4, 2007, to Oct 13, 2008.

Similarly, Justice Jehangir Arshad and Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery, who retired during the cessation period, had not received salary for the intervening period between Nov 3, 2007, and Aug 17, 2008, and between Nov 3, 2007, and Nov 21, 2007.

The prime minister in a summary advised the president to restore the judges so that their salary could be paid.

Presidential spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar told reporters that with the signing of the summary by the president the judges would be able to draw their salary and other benefits in accordance with the law.