Pakistan's deposed chief justice has begun a national campaign to reclaim his post by saying he still considers himself the legal head of his country's Supreme Court.
Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was speaking Tuesday to lawyers in his hometown of Quetta, the first stop on a tour of Pakistani cities. Pakistani authorities released Chaudhry from house arrest last week on the orders of new Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.
Chaudhry praised the election victory of Mr. Gilani and other opposition leaders in February's parliamentary vote, saying it has changed Pakistan's political culture. He says Pakistani voters rejected what he calls the "one-man rule" of President Pervez Musharraf.
Mr. Musharraf dismissed Chaudhry and dozens of other top judges last November after they refused to recognize his October reelection as president.
Mr. Gilani's coalition government has promised to reinstate all the deposed judges within 30 days.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.