ISLAMABAD, July 20: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has accepted the Supreme Court’s ruling reinstating Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, saying it will be honoured, respected and adhered to, according to his spokesman Maj-Gen (Retd) Rashid Qureshi.

When asked on Friday for the president’s reaction over the Supreme Court decision, Brig Qureshi said: “The president respects the decision of the Supreme Court.” He added, “The president has stated earlier that any judgment the Supreme Court arrives at will be honoured, respected and adhered to.”

Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz called for accepting the Supreme Court’s judgment, reassuring government’s “firm resolve” to uphold rule of law and democratic order in the country.

In a statement, issued soon after announcement of the judgment, Mr Aziz said he had always maintained that the decision of the Honourable Supreme Court must be accepted by all sections of the people, including the government itself.

The prime minister, who had advised the president on sending a reference against the CJ, emphasised that the nation must accept the verdict with grace and dignity reflective of a mature nation.

“This is not the time to claim victory or defeat. The Constitution and the law have prevailed and must prevail at all times,” he added.

Minister for Law Wasi Zafar said the government wholeheartedly accepted the verdict of the Supreme Court as judges’ wisdom was unquestionable. The government did not have any plan to file a review petition against the judgment.

The detailed judgment is awaited as any decision could not be taken in this regard without going through it, he told the PTV.

The verdict had proved that the judiciary was independent and alive, he added.

“It is the judges’ wisdom and we accept it,” he said. The president, the prime minister and other functionaries had already announced their willingness to accept the decision whatever it might be, he added.Pakistan Muslim League Secretary-General Mushahid Hussain Sayed termed the verdict a reaffirmation of the independence of the judiciary in a democratic Pakistan.

Mr Hussain extended congratulations to the chief justice and hoped that the decision would lead to a new balance and harmony among various institutions of the state so that they all work in accordance with the Constitution.

Leader of the House in the Senate Wasim Sajjad said there was no ambiguity in restoration of the Chief Justice and that the decision was acceptable to everyone.

In an interview, he said only after the detailed judgment would things become clear.

Answering a question, he said the opposition would take advantage of the situation, adding the legal matter should not be politicised.

Mr Sajjad said the president and the prime minister had made it clear from the very first day that the government would accept the decision of the apex court.

“The decision of the Supreme Court is according to law and Constitution. We should accept it in the same spirit, and after the detailed decision we would be able to further comment on it,” he added.