ISLAMABAD: Terming the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry a victory of the masses, opposition leaders on Friday said the Supreme Court judgment would prove to be first step towards enforcement of rule of law in the country.

The Supreme Court verdict would lay to rest the ‘doctrine of necessity’ forever, they hoped. They also demanded rolling of the heads of those who piloted the reference against the chief justice.

The opposition leaders with the exception of Benazir Bhutto also demanded resignations of the president and prime minister along with the cabinet so that the country could go for new elections under a national government with an independent election commission.

Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto, however, backed the continuation of Gen Pervez Musharraf and Shaukat Aziz as president and prime minister of Pakistan, respectively, here on Friday, saying she would not demand their resignations at this moment.

Commenting after the Supreme Court verdict reinstating Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry at a hurriedly called press conference at the residence of Rehman Malik, Benazir Bhutto made it clear that she would not demand the resignation of Musharraf at this moment. She also said she was not interested in the continuation of the lawyers’ movement after the Supreme Court verdict and said the goal of the lawyers movement has been achieved with the announcement of the judgment.

Benazir said she hoped the decision of the Supreme Court would change the mind of Musharraf and he would allow both the exiled former prime ministers to return to the country. The Supreme Court verdict would be remembered as a popular struggle for the independence of the judiciary for a long time, she said.

Agencies adds: Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Quaid Nawaz Sharif has termed the Supreme Court judgment "an historic step towards constitutional rule", saying Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday and his fellow judges deserved to be congratulated for providing the nation with a ray of hope.

In a statement released on Friday, the PML-N leader said after the decision it was obvious that the notorious ‘doctrine of necessity’ had been buried once and for all. Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rehman, also termed the verdict historic. While congratulating Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on his reinstatement, he demanded of President General Pervez Musharraf to show moral courage and resign from his office.

Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) President Qazi Hussain Ahmad has termed the judgment a good omen for the restoration of Constitution and democracy. Qazi said restoration of the chief justice has opened up a new chapter for independence of judiciary, saying the decision would raise the image of Pakistan in the comity of nations. MQM chief Altaf Hussain in a statement issued here on Friday welcomed the reinstatement of chief justice.