Re: Zardari, Nawaz agree to impeach Musharraf
Musharraf faces impeachment | World news | guardian.co.uk
Musharraf faces impeachment
Pakistan’s ruling coalition today agreed “in principle” to begin impeachment proceedings against the country’s president, Pervez Musharraf.
The decision to prosecute Musharraf came after late-night discussions between Nawaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N, and Asif Zadari, husband of the late Benazir Bhutto and leader of the Pakistan People’s party.
This morning, a senior coalition official emerged from the talks and told Reuters: “Yes, we have agreed in principle to impeach him.”
An official announcement from the coalition’s leaders is expected later today.
The news puts an end to weeks of speculation over Musharraf’s future, and comes as he is due to fly to China for the opening of the Olympic games.
Musharraf, a close ally of the Bush administration, woke up to banner headlines in the Pakistani press suggesting he would be impeached. In apparent panic he cancelled his flight, but after being closeted with advisers for several hours announced he would go to China after all, a day later than planned.
Impeachment proceedings would plunge Pakistan into a fresh crisis, as Musharraf, who until recently was head of the military and is thought to still enjoy its support, has repeatedly said he will not allow himself to be forced from office. The stock market slumped to its lowest level in two years on today’s news.
Elections in February brought to power Musharraf’s opponents but he has clung on to the presidency, which he seized in a 1999 coup.
The coalition has threatened impeachment before. This time the threat appears more serious, thought the government may opt against such an incendiary move and instead try to pressure Musharraf to stand down voluntarily.
Musharraf is close to the Bush administration because of help he has provided since 9/11 in the “war on terror”. The White House, torn between wanting to see a strongman in place in the fragile country and promoting democracy, has praised him for giving up his post as head of the military and helping with the shift towards civilian rule.
The main US preoccupation in the region is the failure of Pakistan to clamp down on Taliban and al-Qaida forces that regularly cross from its territory into Afghanistan to mount attacks.
The US last month complained that “rotten” elements in the Pakistan intelligence service were aiding the Taliban. While the new civilian government tried to comply with US demands by bringing the intelligence service under its remit, the military, with the support of Musharraf, blocked the move.
Hasan-Askari Rizvi, a political analyst based in Lahore, suggested US support for Musharraf has cooled. “They won’t be too perturbed now if he is knocked out by constitutional means. The Americans see that unless this issue is dealt with, government won’t be able to function.”
Musharraf’s advisers let it be known he is prepared to “use his constitutional powers” to stop impeachment. Under powers he gave himself, Musharraf can dismiss the parliament - which should, in theory, be followed by fresh elections.
Ahsan Iqbal, a senior member of Sharif’s party, said Musharraf “might make such a commando attack on parliament. But we will meet it. Let this be the final round, let there be a final victory for democracy.”
The coalition may have the numbers required for impeachment but it is tight. It would need a two-thirds majority in a joint sitting of both houses of parliament. The upper house, the senate, still has Musharraf supporters making up half its numbers. In the lower house, the coalition easily prevails.
