Dawn.com’s Musadiq Sanwal reports live from Islamabad as the second lawyers’ Long March arrives in the capital. While lawyers and political activists of the PML-N march on, they will have updates from the protests, the word on the street, and stories from the sidelines. Return to The Dawn Blog for live updates, feature stories, and multimedia specials.

17.52 PST, Lahore/Islamabad:

Former SCBA President Aitzaz Ahsan joined the list of lawyers’ movement leaders who held press conferences in Lahore. He hailed the reinstatement of the Iftikhar Chaudhry but also struck a note of caution, saying there were a number of questions regarding the reinstatement of the judges which remained unanswered.

Interestingly, Aitzaz’s address was filled with references and images relating to the PPP and Benazir Bhutto. He was surrounded by slogan-chanting PPP supporters waving party flags, and described the decision to reinstate the judiciary as a victory for Benazir Bhutto’s vision and for all sections of the PPP.

At about the same time, new Information Minister Qamaruz Zaman Kaira held a press conference in Islamabad. He echoed the conciliatory tone adopted in PM Gilani’s address - he said the govt had resolved the deadlock by consulting all political forces, and promised that the issue of governor’s rule in Punjab would be addressed soon. On the issue of press freedom, he said it would be respected, but urged news organizations to forget issues of the past and develop a media code of conduct.

Update 16:49, Islamabad:

Addressing the media, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insasf chief Imran Khan has said that we have alot of hope in the independent judiciary. 'He has been restored by the power of masses.'  Imran hopes that now cases like the Lal Masjid, NRO and missing persons will be taken by the courts.

14.15 PST, Islamabad:

I finally made it inside the CJ’s house and it was packed with people. Surprisingly, I also spotted a PPP flag inside! There are people still coming into the area with drums beating alongside.

I met with members of the Student Action Committee (SAC). This group said that they are not affiliated with any party but consist of college and university students from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. They were dancing and celebrating as well and were saying that this is the beginning of a revolution and they won’t stop now.

Parveen Bashir, the Secretary General of PML-N Sindh was also present there. She said that despite being arrested at the toll plaza in Karachi, she still managed to bring about 200 women to Islamabad to participate.

Interestingly, at the other side of the CJ house, where crowds were still busy dancing, I noticed blockades towards Justice Dogar’s house. Police were standing near by blocking off that area. An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) was standing there and people were teasing him, asking him to allow them to pass through that area. The ASI with a resigned grin kept telling them off, saying that the poor man will be going soon anyway…

13.45 PST, Islamabad:

I don’t know how vividly to describe the scene here. This area outside the Chief Justice’s house is full of people dancing away while music is blaring from every side. I spoke to quite a few people, and the only thing everybody is saying is that this is beginning of a revolution and they expect a lot more to happen. Another surprising thing is that there were quite a few people from Sindh and especially from Karachi, although I had doubted that there would be any present.

I met the president of PML-N Karachi Centre, Omar Farooq Qureshi, who told me that he had left Karachi with a caravan of about 54 people but only 22 made it to Islamabad since the rest were all arrested. He said that they were all now ready to be a part of the government and would help it run smoothly, unless the PPP tried to go off track. But for the most part he seemed very optimistic about the situation ahead.

A boy from Tehrik-i-Insaaf also said that this is the beginning of the revolution while all the lawyers present expressed similar sentiments.

People are dancing away, ice-cream vendors are having a field day with the crowd and the overall atmosphere is absolutely amazing and overwhelming.

13.30 PST, Islamabad:

We walked down Aiwaan-e-Sadar and passed the Supreme Court where everything seemed deserted and no one was around except for a local news channel’s camera crew. But then as soon as we turned towards the Chief Justice's house, the scene changed dramatically. There were dozens and dozens of cars rushing into the street along with people walking in massive groups in the same direction. The police standing around his residence was having a hard time accommodating parking and the crowds which comprised a few hundred people. The great thing about it though was the diversity you could see in the crowd. Young people, women, foreigners, bearded men and jeans-clad youth were all celebrating together. It seemed as if all the different kinds of people from Pakistan had gathered together leaving aside all other biases and issues.

13.15 PST, Islamabad:

On my way back from the Parliament Lodges, I met a lone PML-N party worker, Mohammed Tariq.

I was curious to know his sentiments now and asked him if he was happy after last night's achievements. He said they were quite happy now. I then asked if now PPP and PML-N should look towards working together and he replied by saying that yes, the two parties should cooperate.

At the end of our short conversation, I asked if he still had any complains and he said of course there are complains. And then he explained his position to me by just stating the following: A man can understand another man but an animal often needs a smack.

13.00 PST, Islamabad:

The containers leading towards the Supreme Court and President House on Aiwaan-e-Dastoor are still there but it seems like they too will probably be removed soon. Cars can still go that way through the route leading from Radio Pakistan. People are permitted to walk towards the Supreme Court as there are no restrictions for anyone moving around on foot.

A couple of small convoys passed by with activists holding flags of the Chief Justice and yelling ‘dekho dekho kon aa yaa… chief aayaa, chief aayaa’. The mood on the streets now is quite easy going as opposed to yesterday's tense and charged atmosphere. A few cars with Jamaat-i-Islami flags also passed by and then inside the city a few PML-N flags were seen too. It almost seems as if today is a lazier version of Jashan-e-Azadi celebrations.

A few policemen and Rangers are standing around but in very few and helpless numbers. Nobody is stopping us from taking pictures and walking around the Supreme Court area.

12.30 PST, Islamabad:

According to Dawn.com's Musadiq Sanwal, the city has gone quite lazy and silent after last night's excitement and celebration. The blockades have all gone and every now and then you can still hear distant chanting and celebratory slogans from small groups passing by.

11.00 PST: Lahore

According to latest reports, all those who were arrested are to be released immediately and a notification has been issued to resinstate the judges.

Nawaz Sharif called off the Long March and thanked the nation while it was announced that CJ Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry would be sworn back in on March 21.

6.00 PST: Islamabad

In a short speech, PM Gilani officially announces that Iftikhar Chaudhry will be reinstated as the Supreme Court Justice. He also announces that Section 144 will be lifted throughout the country. He congratulates the people of Pakistan on this historic occasion.

5.24 PST: Islamabad

Iftikhar Chaudhry's spokesperson Athar Minallah says that he hopes the democratically elected government will fulfill the wishes of the people by restoring the deposed chief justice. But Minallah says that the Long March will only be over when Chaudhry takes his place in courtroom number one.

Meanwhile, there are reports that the Long March will continue until the PM's address is heard by the nation. Activists acommpanying Sharif's convoy continue to move toward Islamabad.

4.45 PST: Islamabad

Dawn News reports that rumours abound that President Zardari has already returned to President House and gone to sleep while the nation awaits an official announcement about the chief justice's reinstatement.

No reasons have been given to explain why the broadcast of PM Gilani's speech has been delayed.

4.25 PST: Islamabad

The nation continues to await PM Gilani's address. According to Dawn News, PM Gilani has recorded the speech and it is being edited.

Meanwhile, there are reports that President Zardari has contacted MQM chief Altaf Hussain in London via telephone. He also spoke with JUI-F's Fazlul Rehman and ANP's Asfandyar Wali Khan. These coalition partners were informed about the president's decision regarding the chief justice's reinstatement.

Barriers have largely been removed from Rawalpindi to allow free movement through the city.

4.15 PST: Islamabad

The large crowd gathered outside Chaudhry's house continues to be jubilant - and continues to grow in number. Lawyers are celebrating alongside political party activists who are waving party flags and raising slogans. Police presence continues to be scarce.

PM Gilani is expected to address the nation in the next few minutes.

3.45 PST: Islamabad

Nawaz Sharif will also reportedly address the nation from Gujranwala after PM Gilani has spoken.

3.30 PST: Islamabad

There are unconfirmed reports that a helicopter has been dispatched from the capital to collect Nawaz Sharif and Aitzaz Ahsan.

3.27 PST: Islamabad

The question on everyone in Islamabad's lips: will governor rule be called off in the Punjab as part of PM Gilani's speech?

3.05 PST: Islamabad

Senior PML-N leader Javed Hashmi, who was arrested earlier in the day, has arrived at Iftikhar Chaudhry's house. Speaking to the media, he said that he hopes that the PM's announcement will fulfill the expectations of the nation.

2.55 PST: Islamabad/Lahore

Security barriers are being erected outside the residence of Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Meanwhile, owing to the lack of obstacles and police forces, the size of Nawaz Sharif's convoy is swelling and a large number people are still expected to arrive in Islamabad on Monday.

2.50 PST: Islamabad

Although reports remain unconfirmed, according to PPP sources, deposed chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry will be reinstated and is expected to take office on March 22, after current Chief Justice Dogar retires on March 21. Two of his deposed colleagues will also be joining him.

Dawn News television reports that the message about the chief justice's reinstatement has been conveyed to Nawaz Sharif and he has been asked to halt his journey at Gojra, rather than continuing on to Islamabad.

2.25 PST: Islamabad

Residents of Islamabad report that some of the containers that had been put up around the capital earlier in the day to prevent movement are now being removed.

Dawn News television reports that PM Gilani's address to the nation is currently being drafted and will soon be broadcast.

2.10 PST: Islamabad

Early on Monday morning, Pakistanis are glued to their television sets, waiting to learn the outcome of the meeting between President Zardari, PM Gilani, and COAS Kayani. The meeting ended at about 1:00 a.m. and the prime minister is expected to address the nation shortly, but rumours are already making the rounds of the capital city and Lahore.

Crowds have gathered outside deposed chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry's house: they are celebrating the (unconfirmed) restoration of the chief justice. The political activists say they have received word from PML-N leadership that the chief justice has been restored as an outcome of the presidential meeting. Police forces have moved away from Chaudhry's residence and are making no effort to enforce Section 144.

PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar, for his part, has said that the chief justice has been restored and that the announcement will be made within the hour.

Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif's convoy is snaking its way to Islamabad. It is currently approaching Gujranwala (the city's exit and entry points had been blocked earlier, but police forces are reportedly not presenting further obstacles to Sharif's movement).