ID :
15409
Sat, 08/09/2008 - 19:39
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http://m.oananews.org//node/15409
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Stage set for Musharraf's impeachment; NA session on Monday
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Aug 9 (PTI) The stage was set today for the launch of impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf with the summoning of the National Assembly on Monday even as Musharraf ruled out dissolving the House to overcome the crisis facing him.
The 342-member lower house will meet at 5 PM on August 11 for a session that will decide the fate of the 64-year-old Musharraf who himself issued the notification at the behest of the PPP-led ruling coalition which is moving for his impeachment.
Amid mounting speculation about how he would handle the challenge, Musharraf pledged to face the impeachment motion in a "democratic spirit" and not to use his constitutional powers to dissolve the Assembly.
While there have been questions as to whether the coalition had the numbers in the two houses of Parliament -- the National Assembly and the Senate -- to carry through the impeachment, one of his closest political aides Sheikh Rashid, a former federal minister, surprisingly advised the beleaguered leader to quit.
Rashid was of the view that the coalition would win the numbers game and the army would not support the President if he chose to dissolve the Assembly.
Musharraf, who has not spoken in public since the coalition announced two days ago its decision to impeach him, met top leaders of PML-Q, his ally, at Rawalpindi after which sources quoted him as telling the meeting that he had not indulged in "loot, corruption and malpractices".
The PML-Q leaders, including party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, told the President that he had two options to face a possible impeachment motion or to step down, sources said.
They also made it clear to Musharraf that any attempt by him to exercise his powers to dissolve the parliament would not be supported by "political parties, the masses and the establishment", they said.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who is in Beijing, said Musharraf should not prolong his stay in office against people's wishes and should seek a vote of confidence in Parliament or else he will be impeached.
If the motion is passed by Parliament, Musharraf would have the ignominious distinction of being the first Pakistani President to be impeached.
Musharraf is "required to obtain a fresh vote of confidence from the parliament.
Otherwise, the parliament, being a sovereign and independent body, has the option to exercise the right to impeach him," Gilani said.
During the hearing of a case challenging Musharraf's re-election in uniform, the President's counsel had given a commitment to the apex court last year that he would secure a vote of confidence from the parliament elected in the February 18 general election.
Islamabad, Aug 9 (PTI) The stage was set today for the launch of impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf with the summoning of the National Assembly on Monday even as Musharraf ruled out dissolving the House to overcome the crisis facing him.
The 342-member lower house will meet at 5 PM on August 11 for a session that will decide the fate of the 64-year-old Musharraf who himself issued the notification at the behest of the PPP-led ruling coalition which is moving for his impeachment.
Amid mounting speculation about how he would handle the challenge, Musharraf pledged to face the impeachment motion in a "democratic spirit" and not to use his constitutional powers to dissolve the Assembly.
While there have been questions as to whether the coalition had the numbers in the two houses of Parliament -- the National Assembly and the Senate -- to carry through the impeachment, one of his closest political aides Sheikh Rashid, a former federal minister, surprisingly advised the beleaguered leader to quit.
Rashid was of the view that the coalition would win the numbers game and the army would not support the President if he chose to dissolve the Assembly.
Musharraf, who has not spoken in public since the coalition announced two days ago its decision to impeach him, met top leaders of PML-Q, his ally, at Rawalpindi after which sources quoted him as telling the meeting that he had not indulged in "loot, corruption and malpractices".
The PML-Q leaders, including party president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, told the President that he had two options to face a possible impeachment motion or to step down, sources said.
They also made it clear to Musharraf that any attempt by him to exercise his powers to dissolve the parliament would not be supported by "political parties, the masses and the establishment", they said.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who is in Beijing, said Musharraf should not prolong his stay in office against people's wishes and should seek a vote of confidence in Parliament or else he will be impeached.
If the motion is passed by Parliament, Musharraf would have the ignominious distinction of being the first Pakistani President to be impeached.
Musharraf is "required to obtain a fresh vote of confidence from the parliament.
Otherwise, the parliament, being a sovereign and independent body, has the option to exercise the right to impeach him," Gilani said.
During the hearing of a case challenging Musharraf's re-election in uniform, the President's counsel had given a commitment to the apex court last year that he would secure a vote of confidence from the parliament elected in the February 18 general election.
