Government Crisis Over Pakistani Judges Continues

It appears that Nawaz Sharif's party has quit the Pakistani government ruling coalition over the issue of reinstating judges.

It appears that at the center of this disupte is deposed Chief Justice, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, who has committed the sin of being a judge:

He held the ruling elite to account. He rattled the security establishment by pursuing the case of the "missing" - alleged terror suspects abducted and held incommunicado by Pakistan's intelligence services.

And he took up legal challenges to President Musharraf's re-election.

Additionally, there are indications that the Pakistani high court would likely rule that the state of emergency, and possibly Musharraf's grant of amnesty to PPP head Asif Zardari who would otherwise be charged with corruption.