Islamabad, Mar. 16 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif on Monday called off the `Long March'' of opposition politicians and lawyers after incumbent Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced that deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry would be reinstated on March 21 after present Chief Justice Dogar retires.

In an address to the nation, Gilani declared that President Zardari had agreed to most of Nawaz Sharif''s demands.

Gilani also ordered all political party activists and lawyers arrested over the past week to be released.

Lahore, Mar. 15 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif was placed under house arrest at his Model Town residence on Sunday.

Restrictions on Sharif’s movement in and around the country were imposed a day before a planned “Long March” by politicians and lawyers’ into Islamabad from various parts of the country.

The Pakistan capital was under a state of high alert ahead of the march, and the government has asked the Army to remain on stand by.

Karachi, Mar. 14: The former Pakistan Prime Minister and PML-N chief, Nawaz Sharif and his brother, sacked Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif may have garnered huge public support against the PPP led government and especially against President Asif Ali Zardari, but their voracious verbal attack on Zardari and continuous call to defy the government’s orders has now seen a case filed against them in the Sindh High Court (SHC) on charges of orchestrating a mutiny.

Lahore, Mar. 14: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif has opened the door for reconciliation with President Asif Ali Zardari, by saying that he was ready to give Zardari “the next five years if he delivers on his pledges”.

“There is no need for back channel diplomacy or private and secret dialogue. I have not slammed my doors on dialogue. If Zardari showed sincerity, I am ready to give him another five years (after his tenure expires),” The Daily times quoted Sharif, as saying.

Lahore, Mar. 14 : The British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband called the former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif to discuss the current political turmoil in the country, and to broker talks between the government and the PML-N.

According to The Daily Times, during the telephonic conversation between the two leaders, issues such as the current political situation and the scenario emerging out of the country wide lawyers' protest were discussed.

Washington, Mar 13 : PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has thrown his weight behind the lawyers Long March and sealed his position as Pakistan's most popular political leader.

Sharif has become the man of the hour in Pakistan, poised to add tens of thousands of followers to a nationwide protest against the government, The Christain Science Monitor reports.

The opposition leader's transformation from disciple of a military dictator to champion for the rule of law highlights how strong popular demand for democratic reform has grown here.