Date:08/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/08/stories/2008080858700100.htm

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Musharraf faces impeachment

Nirupama Subramanian

“He tried to undermine transition to democracy”

ISLAMABAD: After three days of intense talks, the PPP-led ruling coalition in Pakistan announced on Thursday that it had decided to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, warning that any move by him to fight back by dissolving Parliament would be rejected by the nation.

A joint declaration drafted by the PPP and its main ally, the Pakistan Muslim league (N), and accepted by other partners in the coalition, listed the reasons for the move.

Read out by PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari in the presence of PML(N) supremo Nawaz Sharif and leaders of the other coalition parties at a press conference, the charges against the retired General Musharraf included his failure to take a vote of confidence from the newly elected parliament despite a commitment he would do so to the Supreme Court at the time of his election from the outgoing parliament in October 2007.

It also listed his refusal to quit despite the electoral defeat of his political allies, his failure to address the new parliament and the “incompetence” of his policies that had resulted in an economic crisis. It also accused him of trying to “undermine” the transition to democracy, and of weakening the federation.

Mr. Zardari said the judges dismissed by President Musharraf would be reinstated after his impeachment.

As outlined in the declaration, the coalition’s strategy for the impeachment is to first have resolutions passed by the four provincial assemblies asking Gen. Musharraf to take a vote of confidence from the newly elected parliament and assemblies. Immediately, the coalition is to initiate impeachment proceedings in parliament.

“We have the votes, we have the political will and the courage to impeach the President,” Mr. Zardari said. He was replying to a question if the coalition had two-thirds vote in a joint sitting of the two Houses of parliament.

Indications from the presidency are that Gen. Musharraf may fight back. He has powers to dissolve parliament, but Mr. Sharif warned against the use of that weapon.

“This is not the Pakistan of the 80s or the 90s that Article 58(2)(b) or martial law can be used against an elected government. The nation will not tolerate it,” he said.