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Mush’s
impeachment keeps everyone guessing
WSN Network
 ISLAMABAD: Uncertainty looms large over the impeachment process of
President Pervez Musharraf even as rumour mill had been floating
diverging theories and possibilities over his future. While the
Impeachment was to be sought on Monday, there was virtually a lull
in the political circles in Pakistan till the time this report was
being written.
On the one hand the government seemed to have
made a strong case against him claiming that he had illegally raised
person wealth to the tune of Rs 700 million, the General’s camp too
appeared ready for spirited defense against impeachment charges.
Musharraf faces the first impeachment proceedings in Pakistani
history, after the leaders of the two major political parties in the
ruling coalition announced Thursday they would seek to remove him.
The grounds for impeachment included
mismanagement of the economy, along with Musharraf’s imposition last
November of emergency rule and the firing of nearly 60 judges.
Mushahid Hussain, the secretary general of the Pakistan Muslim
League-Q party, which supports Musharraf, said part of the
president’s defence strategy would be to draw a distinction between
himself and the two leaders of the ruling coalition, Asif Ali
Zardari, and Nawaz Sharif.
Reports have been quoted saying that the option
for Pakistan people is now between Musharraf and President Zardari,
who has given enough hints that he would like to be president. Many
politicians and analysts said they hoped Musharraf would take the
“graceful” way out and decide to step aside. Uut as of now nothing
of the sort seem to be developing On the other hand the powerful
Pakistani military establishment to seem to be gearing up for the
occasion as Army chief Gen Kayani chaired a corps commanders
conference to mainly discussing the prevailing domestic situation
and operational issues in the country.
The United States, on the other hand, has been
maintaining that it does not want to interfere in the impeachment
process but should President Pervez Musharraf agree to step down,
the Americans would like to ensure a secure and honourable stay for
him in Pakistan. The Pakistani government is also said to have
wanted a senior US official or a lawmaker to call President
Musharraf and urge him to quit. According to sources, the Americans
have told the Pakistanis that they want to stay neutral on this
issue and would support any move which was “consistent with the rule
of law and the Constitution,” as the State Department spokesman
Gonzalo R. Gallegos said at a recent briefing.
13 August, 2008
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