ID :
15756
Wed, 08/13/2008 - 15:29
Auther :

Impeachment motion against Mush to be submitted next week

Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Aug 13 (PTI) The impeachment motion against Pervez Musharraf will be submitted in parliament next week, Pakistan's ruling coalition said Tuesday as it asked the President to quit or face the "tidal wave" of opposition set off by the two provincial assemblies backing the move.

"When the day comes next week, when we move our resolution for the joint (sitting of the National Assembly and Senate), we will have much more (votes) than we need (to impeach the President)," Pakistan People's Party (P.P.P) leader and Information Minister Sherry Rehman told reporters.

Speaking after a meeting of the committee of P.P.P. and
Pakistan Muslim League(Nawaz)P.M.L.-N leaders that is framing
the impeachment motion and chargesheet against Musharraf,
Rehman said a "tidal wave" had been set in motion against
Musharraf with two provincial assemblies passing resolutions
asking him to seek a vote of confidence in parliament.

Referring to the charges being framed against
Musharraf, she said: "This is a powerful chargesheet that
cannot be challenged by anyone and there will be no defence in
front of it."

P.M.L.-N leader Ishaq Dar, also a member of the committee
drafting the impeachment motion, said the panel is preparing
an unimpeachable document that cannot be challenged.

He too said the coalition has "much more than" the 295
votes needed in a joint sitting of parliament to impeach the
President.

"Even now, the concerned parties should understand the
situation and not waste the time of the nation. The
impeachment process can be avoided if General Musharraf
resigns - I believe that is the best option for him," Dar
said.

Though Rehman refused to give details about the
chargesheet, other P.P.P. and P.M.L.-N leaders have said in
the past few days that the charges to be brought against
Musharraf include incompetence, violating and subverting the
constitution, financial irregularities and pursuing policies
that have brought Pakistan to the brink of an economic crisis.

Rehman said Musharraf's supporters had turned against
him as was reflected by the voting on the resolution passed
Tuesday by the North West Frontier Province assembly.

"There were 107 votes against Musharraf and only four
for him. Even the PPP-Sherpao, which earlier supported
Musharraf, voted against him," she said.

"This whole exercise is an exercise for a real transition
to democracy," she said, adding that all democratic
forces were together and voting for the return to democracy.
"Nobody wants to be remembered on the wrong side of
history in this historic and critical juncture in Pakistan's
political life," she remarked.

The ruling coalition had been contacted by opposition
PML-Q members and independents who wanted to support the
impeachment motion.

Once the process of the four provincial assemblies
passing resolutions asking the President to seek a vote of
confidence is completed, the impeachment motion will be
moved in the National Assembly, she said.

P.P.P. leader Raza Rabbani, also a member of the panel
drafting the chargesheet, said the impression that the
impeachment motion can be challenged is wrong.
PTI RHL



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