ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf yesterday ended days of political suspense in Pakistan by announcing his resignation over live television.
He handed in his resignation to the speaker of the National Assembly, Fahmida Mirza, after delivering an emotional speech.
Musharraf said he wanted to spare Pakistan a dangerous power struggle with opponents vowing to impeach him. He said he was satisfied that all he had done was for the good of the people of his country.
“Whether I win or lose the impeachment, the nation will lose,” Musharraf, 65, said. “The honor and dignity of the country will be affected and in my view, the honor of the office of president will also be affected.”
Much of his speech was devoted to defending his actions during nine years in power. “No charge sheet can stand against me. My actions were in accordance with my philosophy of Pakistan first,” Musharraf said.
“I don’t want anything from anybody. I have no interest. I leave my future in the hands of the nation and the people,” he said.
Musharraf concluded by saying: “I never wanted a clash between state institutions and particularly my own institution, the armed forces. So I have decided to resign... Pakistan ka Khuda hafiz hai (God save Pakistan).”
According to government sources, Musharraf had earlier prepared himself to face his opponents in Parliament. During his impeachment, he had planned to present copies of the National Reconciliation Ordinance and the written agreement he had secured from former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif before he was freed to travel abroad.
But the Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Kayani dissuaded him from doing so and urged him to announce his resignation before the Parliament could start impeachment proceedings.
Musharraf made no mention of whether he would stay in the country or go into exile.
Pakistan’s crumbling markets showed immediate revival following the resignation. The benchmark KSE-100 index shot up by 4.5 percent or 460 points to close at 10,719 as investors felt the development will cool off political tensions.
The rupee also made a gain of over 1 percent to trade at 75/76 against the dollar in the open market as compared with 76.50/77 on Friday.
Pressure has been mounting on the president to step down. Four provincial assemblies, which make up the presidential electoral collage have asked him to call a vote of confidence in his leadership or resign.
According to Pakistan’s constitution, a new president should be elected within 30 days for a five-year term.
It remains an open question whom Parliament will elect to succeed Musharraf, partly because the ruling coalition has vowed to strip the presidency of much of its power.
There is speculation that both Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, the leaders of the two main parties, are interested in the role. However, neither has openly said so.
“It is a victory of democratic forces,” Information Minister Sherry Rehman said. “Today, the shadow of dictatorship that has prevailed for long over this country, that chapter, has been closed.”
Television footage showed groups of people celebrating in the streets in several towns across Pakistan, some of them firing automatic weapons into the sky.
Ahsan Iqbal, a senior official of Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (N), said: “The crimes of Musharraf against the nation, against the judiciary, against democracy and against rule of law in the country cannot be forgiven by any party or individual.”
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of slain ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her official successor as head of the Pakistan People’s Party, said he was proud of his country.
“Soon after my mother’s martyrdom, I had said that democracy is the best revenge and today it is proved. The biggest hurdle in the way of democracy has been removed.”
The United States praised Musharraf as a committed partner against terrorism and pledged to keep helping Pakistan fight extremism.
The White House said President George W. Bush was committed to a strong Pakistan that strengthens democracy and fights terrorism.
“President Bush appreciates President Musharraf’s efforts in the democratic transition of Pakistan as well as his commitment to fighting Al-Qaeda and extremist groups,” White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in Texas, where Bush is at his ranch.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said his country remained strongly committed to its alliance with Pakistan.
Miliband described Pakistan as a “vital friend” and said Britain’s aid program for Pakistan will continue.
— With input from agencies
