ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan’s ruling coalition readied impeachment charges against Pervez Musharraf, the embattled president said that he was ready to defend himself in Parliament.
“President Musharraf is waiting for the charge sheet,” said Shaikh Waqas, a leader of the PML (Q) who has emerged as one of the defenders of the president. Waqas told Arab News that Musharraf will put his case before Parliament.
Another PML (Q) leader Chaudhry Pervez Elahi criticized the PPP-led government for creating political crisis. Talking to this reporter, he said, “the ruling coalition has not been able to name any presidential candidate in case President Musharraf steps down.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday granting asylum to Musharraf was not currently under consideration by the United States. “That’s not an issue on the table, and I just want to keep our focus on what we must do with the democratic government of Pakistan,” Rice told Fox News yesterday when asked if Washington would give the Pakistan president asylum.
Asked if it would be in the best interest of Pakistan to have Musharraf resign, Rice said: “This is a matter for the Pakistanis to resolve.
“We have been supportive of democratic elections that took place in Pakistan. In fact, advocated for them.”
She said the United States had showed its support for the new government, citing President George W. Bush’s recent meeting with Pakistani Premier Yousaf Raza Gilani. Rice said “President Musharraf has been a good ally” but that Washington had disagreed with his decision to declare a state of emergency.
The coalition said yesterday it was giving Musharraf two days to stand down.
Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said “the charge sheet will be presented in Parliament by tomorrow.”
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said a day earlier that Musharraf had to decide on quitting “by today or tomorrow.” The coalition finalized the charges yesterday after intense deliberations and would present them today to the alliance’s leaders, Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, Information Minister Sherry Rehman said.
— With input from agencies
