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| Ruling coalition gives Sunday deadline for Musharraf to quit | | | Islamabad | Aug 16
Mounting pressure on beleaguered President Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's ruling coalition today set a 24-hour deadline for him to resign or face impeachment in parliament next week as his chances of getting legal immunity dimmed.
Musharraf is "short of time" and if he does not quit by tomorrow, the impeachment proceedings will start, senior Pakistan People's Party leader and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told reporters in Multan.
Pakistani media reported that with no resolution in sight to the political impasse, the ruling coalition may be turning to army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani to hasten the ouster of the President who has reportedly sought Saudi mediation but this was dismissed by Qureshi.
Speculation continued that Musharraf may step down in next 48 hours but the embattled President is holding out, making last-ditch efforts to strike a hard bargain.
Musharraf is reportedly not ready to accept anything short of an "honourable" stay in Pakistan with full presidential protocol and benefits and legal cover for his actions in the event of his resignation.
But a key ally of the ruling coalition, the PML-N led by former premier Nawaz Sharif, ruled out legal cover for Musharraf. "Legal guarantees are out of question," party spokesman Siddique-ul-Farooq said.
The ruling coalition is giving final shape to a comprehensive chargesheet to initiate impeachment proceedings against Musharraf. The impeachment motion would be tabled in parliament within a couple of days, Farooq said adding, it contains Musharraf's "unconstitutional acts and corru
Indications that Musharraf's impeachment may not be easy were given by PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari who said the President should show maturity and resign.
"We have been requesting him to go and he should also demonstrate maturity and leave," Zardari told Dawn News channel in an interview.
As the prevailing atmosphere of uncertainty is causing political and economic instability, it will be in the "fitness of things if the President opts to relinquish the presidency so that stability is revived", Qureshi said.
To a question about about a safe exit for the President, he said any decision on this will be taken after consultation among the coalition partners but this would be possible only if the President pre-empts the impeachment and quits.
Saudi Arabia has rushed its intelligence chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz to Pakistan to broker a deal with the ruling coalition for a graceful exit for Musharraf, media reports said.
For another day in running, Musharraf's spokesman Rashid Qureshi denied that the President intended to quit in the next few days.
"The recent spate of news reports and rumours being spread that President Pervez Musharraf is resigning are totally baseless and malicious," he said.
Musharraf has reportedly sought assurances that if he resigns he would be granted immunity from prosecution and receive high-status security.
A proposal by Musharraf to remain as a figurehead without any power has been rejected by Zaradari, the Daily Telegraph of Britain reported.
Qureshi said no foreign pressure is being exerted on the Pakistan government with regard to the impeachment move. Several countries have said that the impeachment proceedings are being pursued within the ambit of the Pakistani constitution, he said.
Asked about the army's role in the matter, he said the force "is with the Pakistani constitution". "They have said the constitution will be respected and they are not getting involved. They have kept away from this process," he added.
Demands for the President's resignation have also been made by retired diplomats, ex-servicemen, business groups and "many of those who represent" pro-Musharraf PML-Q, he said.
The coalition partners will discuss the selection of the next President and a decision will be made with consensus. PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has so far not expressed willingness to be Presiden t, but if he so desires, his wish will given be "due weight", he said.
All four provincial assemblies, which form part of the electoral college in the election of the President, have passed resolutions asking Musharraf to seek a vote of confidence in parliament. Though the move has no legal implications, the ruling coalition is hoping to increase pressure on Musharraf to quit through the measure.
Information Minister and PPP leader Sherry Rehman also said Musharraf should read the writing on the wall and step down. Talking to the media at Parliament House, she described the move to impeach the President as historic.
Rehman said the impeachment of the President is a parliamentary process and not a trial. The President will be given the right to defend himself before parliament, she added. |
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