Pakistan to convene National Assembly session on impeachment of Musharraf on August 11

www.chinaview.cn 2008-08-07 23:03:43

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) --

The Pakistani government has decided to convene the session of National Assembly on Aug. 11 for the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf, the Federal Minister for Information Sherry Rehman on Thursday.

Talking to media outside Parliament House, she said the session of the National Assembly, lower house of the parliament, will be summoned on Aug. 11 in which the resolution of impeachment will be tabled and full process of impeachment will be on Aug. 12-13.

The News Network International news agency quoted Sherry as saying that the session of Punjab Assembly was already in progress and the sessions of the other three provincial assemblies would be convened soon in which the resolution regarding impeachment would be approved.

Addressing a joint news conference with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan People's Party Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari Thursday said the coalition had decided to move to start the proceedings to impeach Musharraf after three days of meetings in Islamabad and Karachi.

Pakistan's coalition to initiate move to impeach Musharraf

www.chinaview.cn 2008-08-07 21:02:21

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) --

Pakistan's coalition will initiate a move to impeach President Pervez Musharraf immediately, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari announced Thursday.

The judges who were dismissed last year will be restored after the impeachment of Musharraf, Zardari said while addressing a joint news conference with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif here.

Musharraf also promised he would take a vote of confidence from the newly-elected parliament but he did not do that, Zardari said,adding that Musharraf has not addressed the new parliament, which is a requirement for the President according to the Constitution.

"It has become imperative to move for impeachment under article 47 against General Musharraf," Zardari said.

The people of Pakistan have given a clear mandate to oust Musharraf at the general elections on Feb. 18, Zardari said.

Musharraf promised to resign if his party failed in the elections, but he continued to claim the office of President, he said.

Zardari further said that Musharraf's economic policies had led to an economic impasse during his rule in the past years. His policies have weakened the federation and he is working to undermine transition to democracy, he said.

The coalition parties also expressed their clear determination to restore genuine democracy which included repeal of 17th amendment of the Constitution as enunciated in the Charter of Democracy.

Zardari requested PML-N to rejoin the Federal Cabinet as an expression of solidarity with the decision of the coalition to restore judges in accordance with the Murree Declaration.

Sharif said the PML-N would take a decision about rejoining the cabinet later. The impeachment would begin within the next few days, he said.

The leaders of the coalition partners got together and held meetings for three consecutive days since Tuesday on the issues of impeachment of Musharraf and restoration of deposed judges.

Musharraf cancelled his trip to China to attend the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympic Games due to political development in the country, a Foreign Office statement said Thursday.

Musharraf met with some politicians and legal experts on Thursday. They discuss measures to counter the possible impeachment, local media reported.

The PPP and PML-N emerged as two largest parties in the National Assembly, lower house of the parliament in the general elections.

The two parties agreed on March 9 that a coalition government would be formed and the judges who were dismissed last year by Musharraf would be restored.

The PML-N has been seeking to restore the deposed judges and oust Musharraf.

Musharraf earlier said that such kind of move could destabilize the country.

Pakistani politician say impeachment decision hasty

www.chinaview.cn 2008-08-07 23:43:37

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) --

Chairman of Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians Makhdoom Amin Fahim Thursday said the coalition government had made a sensitive decision to impeach the President in haste like other decisions the coalition made in the past.

The Dawn News TV channel quoted Amin Fahim as saying that the time was not right for the impeachment of the president as he was afraid that politicians were playing with fire.

Addressing a joint news conference with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari Thursday said the coalition had decided to move to start the proceedings to impeach Musharraf after three days of meetings in Islamabad and Karachi.

Zardari said that the judges who were dismissed last year when Musharraf declared a state of emergency would be restored after the impeachment of Musharraf.

Clashes between the pillars of state can damage the democracy, Amin Fahim said, adding that the foremost task behind the coalition was to improve the country's economy, condition of the people.

Amin Fahim pointed out that the question of restoration of judiciary had been put behind the impeachment. It was a wishful thinking that impeachment would be successful if not what would be done to restore the judiciary, he said.

Amin Fahim is a senior PPP leader and he contested the presidential elections held in October last year.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

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