Musharraf finds allies slipping ahead of impeachment bid

With the hardest ever days approaching in the form of impeachment, Prevez Musharraf seems to have been losing even his close allies. The Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Provincial Assembly passed a resolution against him and the former interior minister Aftab Sherpao, a staunch supporter of President Pervez Musharraf, as per the official sources, has made up his mind to back moves to impeach him.

The move came a day after the assembly in the most populous province of Punjab demanded the beleaguered leader seek a confidence vote from the presidential electoral college or face trial.

The session at Lower House National Assembly kicked off on Monday evening to carry on the impeachment process against President Pervez Musharraf, who is adamant not to quit his post and face whatever situation comes before him.

The ruling coalition has said that alongwith chargesheet carrying more than 100 charges it will present evidences of corruption in which Musharraf has been indulged for the past 9 years since 1999 bloodless coup when he captured power.

The chargesheet document details allegations of misconduct, violation of the constitution and accuses Musharraf of benefiting from the $8 billion US aid that has flown into Pakistan since 1999.

The General Secretary of the ruling government said that people mandated against President Musharraf on Feb 18 and he should have quit the office on the same day. But, Musharraf did not pay heed to it.

The ruling coalition of PPP and PML (N) decided last week to impeach Musharraf for violating the constitution and reducing the state to the verge of economic and political deadlock. Pervez Musharraf, on the other hand, denied to submission and decided to face the impeachment motion with a democratic spirit instead of giving resignation.

Under the leadership of Premier Yusuf Raza Geelani, leaders of both the coalition party participated in the meeting before the commencement of session to discuss on the forthcoming moves. Leaders decided in the meeting that impeachment process would continue and the session will not be ended till the completion of the impeachment.

On the other hand, as per the Pakistan’s national news channel, President Pervez Musharraf met with the leaders of supporting PML-Q at Ravalpindi and assured them not to be disappointed. All the charges laid against him would be proven false, he said.