Sharif's brother back in office

Pakistan's Supreme Court has restored Nawaz Sharif's brother, Shahbaz, as chief minister of the powerful Punjab province, easing a political row.The move is part of a court review of a ruling last month that banned the brothers from holding elected office because of old convictions.The suspension of the ban means Shahbaz Sharif can resume office immediately while the court review continues.It is the latest in a series of political victories for the Sharifs.On Monday, President Asif Ali Zardari lifted central rule in Punjab, the heartland of support for the Sharifs' PML-N party, after placing it in the control of one of his allies following the ban last month.Ten days ago, Mr Zardari also reinstated the sacked chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, to stave off a nationwide protest led by Nawaz Sharif - a former prime minister and now the main opposition leader.The Sharifs said the court ban on their holding office was unconstitutional, as it was not under the direction of Mr Chaudhry, who had been removed from office by former President Pervez Musharraf.