Puppet Dictator, Pervez Musharraf, Resigns to Avoid Impeachment

TV: Musharraf says not to leave Pakistan

www.chinaview.cn 2008-08-19 23:43:38

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) --

Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf Tuesday said he was not going to leave Pakistan after resignation.

Local TV channel Express News quoted Musharraf as saying that he resigned for the betterment of the country and he would not accept defeat.

Musharraf said he loved his country and would not leave Pakistan.

Musharraf on Monday announced he would resign for national interest. Local media reports said that he might leave Pakistan after resignation.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

Uncertainties linger after Musharraf's resignation

www.chinaview.cn 2008-08-19 18:21:14

By Rao Bo, Li Jingchen

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) --

Despite repeated denials about his possible resignation by the presidential spokesman, Pervez Musharraf eventually stepped down as the Pakistani President Monday, claiming that the decision was made for the sake of national interest.

With the removal of Musharraf, coalition government had to faceup to the challenges ahead. 　　

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announces his resignation in a televised speech to the nation in the face of an impending impeachment motion by the ruling coalition government, Aug. 18, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

Resignation is inevitable

Musharraf's resignation was considered by many people, including his proponents, as a matter of course under the current circumstances.

His popularity plummeted as Musharraf declared a state of emergency on Nov. 3, 2007 and sacked around 60 judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

In the general elections that was held on Feb. 18, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged as two largest parties in the National Assembly, defeating the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).

The PPP and PML-N in March agreed to form a coalition government taking two other parties into confidence. At the same time, the pro-Musharraf PML-Q chose to sit in the opposition and could hardly rival with the ruling coalition in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies.

On Aug. 7, the ruling coalition initiated proceedings of impeachment. Soon, four provincial assemblies passed resolutions against Musharraf, asking him to take a vote of confidence or resign.

In response to the coalition's bid to impeach Musharraf, the United States, which had been bolstering him whenever he faced a crisis before, said it was "the internal politics of Pakistan internal affair".

Analysts pointed out that Musharraf must have smelt a rat in the statement of the U.S., which always termed Musharraf as a key ally against terrorism.

"I have consulted all legal experts, my political supporters. With their advice, I have decided to quit," Musharraf said in a televised national address on Monday.

Analysts pointed out that Musharraf, in fact, had no other choices except resignation.

Theoretically, Musharraf had the constitutional right to dissolve the parliament. However, the PPP and PML-N warned of grave consequences if Musharraf dissolved the parliament. Even the pro-Musharraf PML-Q was against taking the step.

Once the proceedings of impeachment are initiated, Musharraf would be left with no room for a safe exit if he is decided guilty of the charges leveled by the coalition.

According to Pakistan's Constitution, successful impeachment of a sitting president needs the approval of two thirds of a joint session of the two houses of the parliament. That is to say, the coalition should have the support of 295 out of some 440 members of the senate and national assembly. The coalition partners alleged that they had the support of more than 340 parliamentarians.

In the end, Musharraf was actually left with no better choice than resignation.

Resignation accepted

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif said Monday that Musharraf's resignation was the victory of democracy. Describing Musharraf's resignation as victory of the people, Pakistan People's Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari said it would strengthen the democracy and the country.

Meanwhile, the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhary Shujaat said the president had resigned from his position in the national interest and not under any pressure. The opposition wants to work with the ruling coalition in harmony but it depends upon their attitude, said Shujaat.

In a statement released on Monday, the White House said Bush "appreciates President Musharraf's efforts in the democratic transition of Pakistan as well as his commitment to fighting al-Qaeda and extremist groups."

Bush "looks forward to working with the government of Pakistan on the economic, political and security challenges they face," the U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in the statement. 　

Challenges and uncertainties ahead

Zardari has said PPP is the majority party and has the right to appoint its own president once Musharraf was gone. A short while after Musharraf' resignation, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the next Pakistani President would be from PPP. At the same time, the PML-N was mulling nominating its own presidential candidate.

The competition for the office of President offers people a glimpse of possible clashes between the two coalition partners in the future.

Zardari conceded in a recent interview with Dawn News TV channel that political differences between the PPP and the PML-N were bound to emerge after Musharraf's removal.

The PPP and PML-N, two traditional rival parties, will not easily find a way to share power, analysts said.

Critics accused the coalition government of failing to resolve the pressing issues faced by the masses. Currently Pakistan is suffering from price hikes, surging oil prices, power shortage and the escalation of militancy. They said the newly-elected government did nothing to improve the situation during its four-month rule.

Whenever the government is blamed for economic problems, the government officials will complain that they inherited problems from Musharraf and the ex-government. As Musharraf resigned, the coalition government will have to face the accusations themselves. If they fail to solve the problems, feelings of doubt and mistrust will arise.

Musharraf's resignation formally accepted

www.chinaview.cn 2008-08-18 21:18:30

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) --

Pervez Musharraf's resignation as Pakistani president has been formally accepted on Monday, state-run PTV reported.

The PTV quoted the speaker of National Assembly Fahmida Mirza as saying that a notification regarding Musharraf's resignation has also been issued.

Fahmida Mirza pointed out that it was the first time in 1973 constitution for some president to tender his resignation to the speaker of national assembly.

According to Pakistan's constitution, the chairman of the senate has taken the charge as acting president of Pakistan.

Musharraf on Monday announced he would resign one day before the ruling coalition was expected to table his "charge sheet" in National Assembly.

The Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) announced on Aug. 7 that they would initiate proceedings to impeach Musharraf.

Pakistani president Musharraf declares resignation

www.chinaview.cn 2008-08-18 16:07:00

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) --

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on Monday announced his resignation in a televised speech to the nation.

"I decided to resign today, and I will send my resignation to the speaker of parliament house," Musharraf said.

"I have consulted all legal experts and my political supporters. With their advice. I have decided to quit," he said.

Musharraf took power in 1999 in a military coup.

Musharraf rejected allegations against him by the ruling coalition and said they are misleading the nation.

"Unfortunately some elements prefer personal interests to national interests. They leveled baseless allegations against me. They deceived the people," he said.

"They never thought that although they would succeed against mebut they did not realize they will cause damage to the country," Musharraf said.

The president said no charges could stand against him, and he had the right to defend himself in the face of impeachment. But he said that politics of confrontation must come to an end and instead a policy of reconciliation be pursued.

"For me, it is always Pakistan first," he said.

Pakistan's ruling coalition parties on Aug. 7 announced that they would launch an impeachment against the president. The speculation about Musharraf's resignation has mounted since then.

Musharraf did not talk about his "safe exit" after his resignation in his speech. But reports earlier said Musharraf and the ruling coalition have held talks about whether he would stay in Pakistan or fly into exile abroad if he resigns.

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