Pakistan suspends ban on Sharif brothers

Pakistan's supreme court today suspended a ban to disqualify Shahbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif from contesting elections and holding office.

Pakistan's prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (R) shakes hands with former premier Nawaz Sharif (2 L) prior to start an All Parties Conference over the ongoing military operation against Taliban, in Islamabad on May 18, 2009.

Pakistan's supreme court today suspended a ban on opposition leader and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from holding office and contesting elections, his lawyer said. "The judgement is that the order... disqualifying Shahbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif has been set aside," said Ashtar Ausaf, a lawyer for the brothers. A February 25 court decision to disqualify Mr Sharif and his brother from contesting elections and holding office sparked mass protests in March.

*AFP

Updated: May 26, 2009, 12:00 AM