S. Arabia steps in to seek safe exit for Musharraf

[Cheetah786]

ISLAMABAD, Aug 15: Political activities surrounding the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf became feverish as a special committee of the ruling coalition announced on Friday it had finalised the draft of a charge-sheet amid reports of intensified efforts for mediation by foreign governments.

Meanwhile, a presidential spokesman in his first direct and emphatic response declared that the president was ‘innocent’ and in no mood to resign.

“The committee has finished its job and the draft (of the charge-sheet) has been handed over to Law Minister Farooq Naek to clothe it in appropriate jargon,” PPP spokesman and member of the committee, Farhatullah Babar, told Dawn.

He said although impeachment was a constitutional process, and not a legal one, the committee had made it a comprehensive document and it would be sent to the coalition heads for their nod.

He claimed that the charge-sheet against the president contained “solid evidences”.

On the other hand, the president’s spokesman, Maj-Gen (retd) Rashid Qureshi, alleged that the coalition parties were wrongly implicating an ‘innocent man’.

“They have been charging an innocent man wrongly and about these charges we have only heard through the media,” Mr Qureshi said, categorically ruling out the possibility that the president would resign before initiation of the impeachment process.

He said the president would reply to the charges only after receiving the charge-sheet. He alleged: “The media have been behaving irresponsibly and we think all news about the president’s resignation are being planted with certain intentions and motives. He is totally innocent.”

The response of Mr Qureshi during an exclusive chat with DawnNews indicates that the president is in no mood to quit office over the next 24 to 48 hours, as being reported by a section of the media.

Asked to name the president’s supporters, Mr Qureshi said: “Every sane individual who has seen him (the president) at work is supporting this man who has dedicated his life for over eight years to the country and its people.”

In reply to question about the mood of the president, he said: “He is as confident as an innocent man would be because he has done nothing wrong.”

Sources in both ruling and opposition parties admitted that hectic diplomatic efforts were being made by some foreign governments for mediation between the president and the coalition.

A former minister of state for information and PML-Q’s Senator, Tariq Azeem, told BBC that ‘some friends’ were mediating between the president and the government. When asked whether the US ambassador and former UK high commissioner Mark Lyall Grant were also involved in the activities, he said: “The people who were involved in the reconciliation process between PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto and President Musharraf are making efforts. And Mark Grant is involved in it from day one.”

SAUDI PRINCE: There were reports in the electronic media that the chief of Saudi intelligence agency, Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, had secretly arrived in Pakistan and held talks with coalition leaders and President Musharraf. He is reportedly seeking a ‘safe exit’ for the president.

However, PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar denied that his party had made any contact with the Saudi government on the issue.

Mr Qureshi also refuted such reports. “I have no knowledge about it. Ask (the) government about such meetings. It is absolutely wrong that any Saudi intelligence official has met the president,” Mr Qureshi said.

Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Sadiq, asked to comment on the reports, simply said: “I have no information.”

Prince Muqrin has been playing an active role in Pakistan’s politics for the past many years and he had personally visited the country to take former prime minister Nawaz Sharif with him when the PML-N chief made an attempt to return home in defiance of an agreement signed by him with the Saudi government for living in Saudi Arabia.

A source told Dawn that a Saudi aircraft did land at Chaklala Airbase late on Thursday night, but it was not clear who was on board. He said the plane left the base early on Friday morning and there was no information whether it had taken its passengers back or they were still in the country.

He also claimed that a special plane carrying officials from Dubai had landed at Islamabad Airport. He said the plane could not take off due to some technical reasons and it was still at the airport.

PRUNING: Some members of the drafting committee hinted that the coalition leaders might decide to cut the charge-sheet ‘short’ because they did not want to prolong the impeachment process.

They feared that if the charge-sheet was lengthy, the president might seek more time to prepare a reply. “I think when we have the numbers in parliament, there is no need to level hundred charges against the president as one major charge of subverting the Constitution is sufficient to impeach him,” said a member of the committee before attending the meeting held at the residence of Information Minister Sherry Rehman.

Mr Babar said it was up to the coalition leaders to decide if they wanted to drop some charges in the final impeachment notice.

He rejected a perception that the coalition government was intentionally delaying the process in order to give more time to the president to resign. “It is not in the interest of the coalition to delay the process.”

The committee members had earlier claimed that the voluminous charge-sheet against President Musharraf would comprise hundreds of pages containing serious charges of misconduct, financial irregularities, constitutional violations and criminal acts that could lead to an open trial.

However, they hinted on Friday that the final charge-sheet might only contain charges relating to constitutional violations and misconduct.

Mr Babar said the coalition heads had 48 hours for consultations on the draft because they were planning to submit the notice to the National Assembly secretariat by Tuesday.

PML-N information secretary Ahsan Iqbal, who is also a member of the committee, said that Gen (retd) Musharraf alone was responsible for the current political, economic, constitutional and judicial crises.

He alleged that the president, who had violated the Constitution several times, was also “involved in extra-judicial killings”.

Mr Iqbal said the president had lost all moral, legal and constitutional reasons to continue as president after the passage of resolutions against him in the four provincial assemblies.

S. Arabia steps in to seek safe exit for Musharraf -DAWN - Top Stories; August 16, 2008

 

[IceCold]

So what now? eight years and we saw NS out and eight more years we will see Musharraf out and then what? goshh man i can already see Musharraf returning and history repeating itself.

 

[Skywalker]

Guys,

Just for a moment imgaine beyond this impeachment , Mr. Zardari (daako-e-azam) as the president of Paksitan with no check n balance...I have already started shivering. God save Pakistan.

 

[z9-ec]

Mr das percent and bakwas badmash held our country hostage in past..

No more!!

I prefer a man who fought wars for this country, whose family played a pivotal role in our independence, a man who worked hard for the betterment of our people, is willing to defend it even today and that is President Musharraf!

 

[bhangra12345]

So what now? eight years and we saw NS out and eight more years we will see Musharraf out and then what? goshh man i can already see Musharraf returning and history repeating itself.

Musharraf once he is out, he is out. He doesnt have the required grass root level support to come back.

He doesnt have a political organization backing. the PMLQ has already left him. Except for the army, why should any party support him? and why will the army support him after 7 years when a new guy would become COAS and what would this COAS owe personally to Musharraf?

This is what differentiates a army man and a political one. The army man once out has no chance of coming back, but a political one will have his chances

 

[z9-ec]

Musharraf once he is out, he is out. He doesnt have the required grass root level support to come back.

Believe me, as every day passes by his support is increasing.. No one in Pakistan wants those corrupt political judges back. We have seen enough instability, the best option is a reconciliatory approach to overcome our short comings which is highly unlikely under this govt as we don't know who is governing Pakistan.

A person who calls himself a senator (he's not even elected), lies about where he was educated or a dummy sitting on a chair listening to orders.

They accused Shukat Aziz of obeying orders for years and the parliament a rubber stamp here's Z and NS doing the same.

 

[bhangra12345]

Believe me, as every day passes by his support is increasing.. No one in Pakistan wants those corrupt political judges back. We have seen enough instability, the best option is a reconciliatory approach to overcome our short comings which is highly unlikely under this govt as we don't know who is governing Pakistan.

A person who calls himself a senator (he's not even elected), lies about where he was educated or a dummy sitting on a chair listening to orders.

They accused Shukat Aziz of obeying orders for years and the parliament a rubber stamp here's Z and NS doing the same.

Then you have not understood what I said?

Where does Musharraf derive his support and legitimacy from? army.

Why will this source of support and legitimacy give power to him again?

 

[IceCold]

Then you have not understood what I said?

Where does Musharraf derive his support and legitimacy from? army.

Why will this source of support and legitimacy give power to him again?

There are people in the political system that still support him although you don't hear them very often. The real deal will open once impeachment goes on how many numbers does the collation has? But anyways Musharraf has been in the system for eight years, he certainly knows how things work, not to forget that uncle SAM still thinks he's more favorable for them then any other. So IMO even if he goes out which he won't, it is not hard to imagine him coming back again and forming a party of his own. Remember this collation will not stay forever to keep Musharraf out. Musharraf was able to keep NS out because he was the army chief.

 

[Neo]

Guys,

Just for a moment imgaine beyond this impeachment , Mr. Zardari (daako-e-azam) as the president of Paksitan with no check n balance...I have already started shivering. God save Pakistan.

Sad but true. I hope Kiyani does something before its too late.

 

[ashfaque]

Sad but true. I hope Kiyani does something before its too late.

I fully agree with you, a corrupt and weaker government in Pakistan is dangerous for whole region. Once Musharraf gone and this government stays next 1 year or so TALIBAN Forces are going to grow in country like any thing, this will further deteriorate the India-Pakistan relationship which is very important for this south Asia.

Second point, the current weakest coalition gov is intact till today, because Mushurraf is common enemy of them, once Musharraf gone, goverment's internal divide will grow very fast, which will be the golden chance for extremist.

Third point, in one of the thread I said, complete situation is part of conspiracy by US against Pakistan to first create weak government, remove Musharraf and then allow/push Extremist to create bigger presence in Pakistan and then take an excuse that extremist will take over WMD and attack. One of the esteemed member of this forum said that I am watching bolywood movie, but still I back my theory though do not know how much US is going to get success. In my view you will see three indications in near future -

1. Devide in goverment, but will not fall.... US will hold this gov atleast for next 1 year or so....
2. Radical growth of extremists, behind the scene US will work....
3. Further weakening of ISI's perception.

I want to add a fact here too. Why Pakistan is not creating lot of issue on Kashmir these days, though it was the best tme??? Reason it will derail the currect focus of US strategy....