ID :
16309
Tue, 08/19/2008 - 00:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/16309
The shortlink copeid
Musharraf resigns
Islamabad, Aug 17 (PTI) Facing an imminent impeachment, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf Monday announced his resignation maintaining that he wanted to avoid the countrybeing put into instability and confrontation.
"No impeachment or no chargesheet can stand against me.... But I think this is not the time for individualbravado... this is the time for serious thought.
"In the interest of the country, I have decided to resign. The resignation will reach the National Assembly Speaker shortly," the 65-year-old former army chief said in anemotional internationally televised address.
Musharraf's decision brings to an end a bitter confrontation between the presidency and the five-month-old PPP-led coalition government that has been gunning for himsince its victory in the February 18 elections.
With his announcement, all speculation about his putting up a fight in Parliament has ended but still it was not clear whether he would be given any immunity while he stays inPakistan or a safe passage.
The ruling coalition, especially P.M.L.(N.) chief Nawaz Sharif who was dethroned by Musharraf in an October 1999 bloodless coup and P.P.P. chief chief Asif Ali Zardari, hadasked him to quit to avoid being impeached.
His spokesmen had always maintained that he would not quit under pressure and would face the impeachment, a motion regarding which was to be tabled in National Assembly tomorrow. Musharraf was to be charged with various wrongdoings including violation of Constitution, murder of democracy andeconomic misconduct.
In his address, Musharraf asserted that all his decisions during his nine-year rule were in "nationalinterest" as he recounted the "achievements" in all areas.
"Now, they want to impeach me. Are they afraid of my Constitutional powers? Impeachment and chargesheet isParliament's right. To give a reply is my right.
"No chargesheet can stand against me. No charge can be proved against me. I have this much confidence in myself because I have not done anything for myself. Whatever I have done, I have done for Pakistan, its people. Whatever thechargesheet I have no fear," Musharraf said.
"But questions arise as to what impact the impeachment will have on the country. Whether the country will descend into further instability and confrontation. Whether the office of Presidency should come under pressure. Should it come under impeachment procedure?" He said whether he won or lost, the country will stand to lose if the impeachment was undertaken. "The dignity of the office of the president will be affected.... The country's dignity will be maintained." Contending that he had dedicated 44 years of his life in the service of the nation as an army man, Musharraf said he was taking the decision to quit to avoid the prolonging of the "atmosphere of uncertainty" and to save Parliament from horsetrading.
"I don't want to put my friends (supporters) in problem. Even if the impeachment is defeated, the relationshipbetween the Presidency and the government will be bitter.
He said he could have adopted a different course if he had done anything in self-interest. But he avoided that as impeachment could lead to acrimony between parliament and judiciary and army could be dragged into it "which I neverwant".
"Keeping all this in view and taking into account all the factors and in consultation with legal experts, supporters and close aides and on their advise and in the interest of thecountry I have decided to resign," a grim Musharraf said.
"I don't need anything for me. I put my future in the hands of the people," he said, adding "I too am human and could have made some mistakes. I hope these will be pardoned because my intentions were clear." Musharraf said his supporters wanted him to continuebut the decision to resign was the need of the hour.
Describing the allegations made by the ruling coalition against him as "false and baseless" which will harm the country, he said all his decisions were taken in consultation with all stakeholders including politicians, armyand bureaucrats on board.
Musharraf said that the people were being misled by the allegations against him. "They may damage me but they are damaging the country's interests." He also claimed that he had always strove for reconciliation but the ruling coalition has chosen the path of confrontation. "At the personal and Constitutional level novendetta was practiced by me.
"Unfortunately all my efforts to promote reconciliation, my pleas to forget the past and look to thefuture have failed," Musharraf said in his hour-long speech.
He recounted the situation faced by Pakistan when he took over power when there was a threat of the country being "declared a terrorist state and people with Kalashnikov riflesand hood were moving about freely".
He also said that he had revived the Pakistani economy, worked for women's emancipation and improved thesituation in various sectors.
Musharraf claimed he had brought the "essence of democracy" in Pakistan. "Being an army man, I am perceived as anti-democratic. But earlier democracy was just a label on a bottle. I brought the essence to it by successfully holding elections... The February 18 polls were free, fair andtransparent".
"No impeachment or no chargesheet can stand against me.... But I think this is not the time for individualbravado... this is the time for serious thought.
"In the interest of the country, I have decided to resign. The resignation will reach the National Assembly Speaker shortly," the 65-year-old former army chief said in anemotional internationally televised address.
Musharraf's decision brings to an end a bitter confrontation between the presidency and the five-month-old PPP-led coalition government that has been gunning for himsince its victory in the February 18 elections.
With his announcement, all speculation about his putting up a fight in Parliament has ended but still it was not clear whether he would be given any immunity while he stays inPakistan or a safe passage.
The ruling coalition, especially P.M.L.(N.) chief Nawaz Sharif who was dethroned by Musharraf in an October 1999 bloodless coup and P.P.P. chief chief Asif Ali Zardari, hadasked him to quit to avoid being impeached.
His spokesmen had always maintained that he would not quit under pressure and would face the impeachment, a motion regarding which was to be tabled in National Assembly tomorrow. Musharraf was to be charged with various wrongdoings including violation of Constitution, murder of democracy andeconomic misconduct.
In his address, Musharraf asserted that all his decisions during his nine-year rule were in "nationalinterest" as he recounted the "achievements" in all areas.
"Now, they want to impeach me. Are they afraid of my Constitutional powers? Impeachment and chargesheet isParliament's right. To give a reply is my right.
"No chargesheet can stand against me. No charge can be proved against me. I have this much confidence in myself because I have not done anything for myself. Whatever I have done, I have done for Pakistan, its people. Whatever thechargesheet I have no fear," Musharraf said.
"But questions arise as to what impact the impeachment will have on the country. Whether the country will descend into further instability and confrontation. Whether the office of Presidency should come under pressure. Should it come under impeachment procedure?" He said whether he won or lost, the country will stand to lose if the impeachment was undertaken. "The dignity of the office of the president will be affected.... The country's dignity will be maintained." Contending that he had dedicated 44 years of his life in the service of the nation as an army man, Musharraf said he was taking the decision to quit to avoid the prolonging of the "atmosphere of uncertainty" and to save Parliament from horsetrading.
"I don't want to put my friends (supporters) in problem. Even if the impeachment is defeated, the relationshipbetween the Presidency and the government will be bitter.
He said he could have adopted a different course if he had done anything in self-interest. But he avoided that as impeachment could lead to acrimony between parliament and judiciary and army could be dragged into it "which I neverwant".
"Keeping all this in view and taking into account all the factors and in consultation with legal experts, supporters and close aides and on their advise and in the interest of thecountry I have decided to resign," a grim Musharraf said.
"I don't need anything for me. I put my future in the hands of the people," he said, adding "I too am human and could have made some mistakes. I hope these will be pardoned because my intentions were clear." Musharraf said his supporters wanted him to continuebut the decision to resign was the need of the hour.
Describing the allegations made by the ruling coalition against him as "false and baseless" which will harm the country, he said all his decisions were taken in consultation with all stakeholders including politicians, armyand bureaucrats on board.
Musharraf said that the people were being misled by the allegations against him. "They may damage me but they are damaging the country's interests." He also claimed that he had always strove for reconciliation but the ruling coalition has chosen the path of confrontation. "At the personal and Constitutional level novendetta was practiced by me.
"Unfortunately all my efforts to promote reconciliation, my pleas to forget the past and look to thefuture have failed," Musharraf said in his hour-long speech.
He recounted the situation faced by Pakistan when he took over power when there was a threat of the country being "declared a terrorist state and people with Kalashnikov riflesand hood were moving about freely".
He also said that he had revived the Pakistani economy, worked for women's emancipation and improved thesituation in various sectors.
Musharraf claimed he had brought the "essence of democracy" in Pakistan. "Being an army man, I am perceived as anti-democratic. But earlier democracy was just a label on a bottle. I brought the essence to it by successfully holding elections... The February 18 polls were free, fair andtransparent".
