ISLAMABAD: President Pervez Musharraf will address the nation today at 1pm in which he is expected to resign, according to reports.
Some sources confirmed to Geo News that president could announce his resignation in today’s address to the nation. “President Musharraf has made up his mind to resign before the impeachment motion is tabled in the assembly,“ sources confirmed.
According to Geo News correspondent, some friend countries were trying to broker a deal to protect and save President Musharraf. “President Musharraf has agreed to resign on the condition that he would be given indemnity and would not be tried, sources said.
Sources further said the president would address the nation as part of understanding.
When contacted by Geo News, President’s spokesman Rashid Qureshi said President would not resign and added he was unaware of any decision regarding resignation. However, he later confirmed that President Musharraf would address to the nation at 1pm afternoon today.
According to some sources, it was agreed by political powers that President Pervez Musharraf would stay at Army House in Rawalpindi for short period even after resignation.
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WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Sunday said the issue over President Musharraf’s political future was for Pakistanis to determine and indicated that the United States granting asylum to the embattled leader was not currently under consideration.
Washington, she said, has been supportive of the new democratic Pakistani government, adding the US is cooperating with Pakistan in a broad range of areas, including its economic development and the fight against terrorism.
“This is a matter for Pakistanis to resolve and we have been supportive of democratic elections that took place in Pakistan, in fact, advocated for them. “We have been supportive of their new democratic government as witnessed by President (Bush)’s meetings with Prime Minister (Yousuf Raza) Gilani. So this is a matter for Pakistan to determine,” she told FOX News channel when asked if President Musharraf should step down to avoid an impeachment fight.
Pressed if she is prepared to say whether or not the US would grant President Musharraf asylum, Secretary Rice said: “This is an issue that is not on the table, I just want to keep focus on what we must do with the democratic government of Pakistan. President Musharraf has been a good ally everyone knows that we disagreed with his decision in terms of the state of emergency which he declared (in November 2007). But he kept his word, took off his uniform. Now there is a democratic government in Pakistan.
“Pakistan and the United States have a joint interest in fighting terror because these terrorists are not just after the United States and Afghanistan, they are also after Pakistan as demonstrated by the fact that they killed (Benazir) Bhutto. “That is what we are concentrating on, and helping Pakistan to sustain its economy, to build its schools.”
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N finally he resigns
Musharraf announces resignation
Updated at: 1400 PST, Monday, August 18, 2008
RAWALPINDI: President Pervez Musharraf announced in a televised address to the nation Monday that he had decided to resign after nine years in power to avoid the threat of impeachment.
"After viewing the situation and consulting legal advisers and political allies, with their advice I have decided to resign," a grim-faced Musharraf said, backed by Pakistani flags and a portrait of the country's founder.
"I leave my future in the hands of people."
Musharraf made the shock announcement after denying that any of the impeachment charges against him could stand and launching into a lengthy defence of his time in power.
"Not a single charge in the impeachment can stand against me," Musharraf said. "No charge can be proved against me because I never did anything for myself, it was all for Pakistan."
He said that there was now law and order in the country, that human rights and democracy had been improved and that Pakistan was now an crucial country internationally.
"On the map of the world, Pakistan is now an important country, by the grace of Allah," he said.
The President dismissed the “false allegations” being leveled against him by the coalition government and said he was neither afraid of the charges against him, nor shy to face these through impeachment.
“For me it is always Pakistan first”, Musharraf said and added that politics of confrontation must come to an end and instead a policy of reconciliation be pursued.
He stressed immediate measure be taken to arrest the economic downturn and said the nation has the resilience to withstand any challenge.
He said it was not a time to show bravado, but to get serious as country’s dignity was at stake, the office of Presidency would bear the brunt.
“For 44 years I have safeguarded the country and will continue to do so.”
“No charge sheet can stand against me. Not even a single charge can be proven against me as I have full trust in Allah Almighty and I did everything with the belief of Pakistan First.”
The President said he took all decisions with consultation, took all stakeholders onboard, on the most difficult decisions.
“All stake holders, whether they were soldiers, politicians, bureaucrats, members of civil society, Ulema were consulted in all decisions. “I have nothing to worry about the charge sheet,” Musharraf said.
charizmatic
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what a shame that a person like Zardari whose entire life is full of corruption and who was famous as mr 10% for being corrupt and making hell of a money by unfair means is asking musharaf's impeachment ch ch seems like the judgement day is near, Pakistan ka Allah hafiz.
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...remember, people of Pakistan elected Zardari's party into power. Let Pakis learn to respect and tolerate the decision of the majority -- if we care for democracy to prevail...also, remeber that Zardari is a Pakistani and if it wasn't him, someone else like him would have come into power. The nation as a whole is gripped by corruption. Whoever gets an opportunity plunders Pakistani resources for personal riches...Every Paki will have to repent and reform if we want people of high moral character to hold the reins of power.
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Musharraf keeps viewers in suspense till the fag end
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Myra Imran
Islamabad
Leaving aside their household chores, women listened to President Pervez Musharraf’s farewell speech with great interest and appreciated his decision to finally call it quits.
Though aired at a busy time of the day, the address kept most women glued to their television sets. Commenting on the speech, they said it had suspense, because the announcement of the resignation came almost at the fag end.
“Musharraf has always been unpredictable and that is what made me think that he might not resign,” said Anila Saeed, a housewife, surprised that his rule was now over. Some of the women expressed concern that the resignation might create a vacuum. “I am still confused whether this is a step towards stability or more instability,” asked Noreen Farooq.
In the present political and economic scenario, she said that the country needed a strong president and prime minister. “Appointments just to make everyone in the coalition happy is a dangerous trend,” she pointed out.
Saadia Majid, another housewife, said that politicians now had another chance to prove themselves. “It will be a great disappointment if they again fail to deliver.” There were women who said their only concern was the rising inflation and that they were not bothered with who becomes the president or the prime minister.
They said that now that the ‘hurdle’ had been removed, the government should concentrate on providing relief to people. “We expect our leaders to take solid steps to check inflation,” said Anila.
Saima Khalid, a student, suggested that people could not afford to watch political turmoil any longer and the coalition should start dealing with their political activities and governance issues separately. “I don’t think it should be that difficult now,” she said.
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People celebrate Mush’s resignation
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Muhammad Anis
Islamabad
Like other parts of the country, the residents of twin cities expressed joy over President Pervez Musharraf’s resignation and demanded his trial.
People came out of their houses and offices as soon as General (r) Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation in a televised address to the nation. People gathered in groups in various localities of twin cities and raised slogans against Pervez Musharraf. Some people distributed sweets on the occasion.
The celebrations were at their peak in front of the Zardari House, central secretariats of coalition partners — PML-N & PPP — and offices of the Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI).
Political workers took rounds of roads on motorbikes and cars to express their jubilation over the development. There were also reports of aerial firing and fireworks from various parts of twin cities, particularly from central parts of Rawalpindi.
Not even a single demonstration was held in any part of twin cities in support of a dictator who ruled the country for almost nine years. The majority of people interviewed by ‘The News’ were of the opinion that Pervez Musharraf should be tried in court for violating the constitution, killing of hundreds of students of the Jamia Hafsa, killing of Baloch leader Akbar Bugti and handing over of a large number of Pakistanis to the US.
Shamsur Rehman Swati, secretary general of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) (Rawalpindi), said “Safe passage should not be given to Pervez Musharraf, who is the killer of innocent people at Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa as well as democracy.”
A large number of female students of Jamia Hafsa, led by Umme Hassaan, staged a rally at Aabpara Chowk demanding trial of Pervez Musharraf. They carried placards and banners demanding that Pervez Musharraf should be hanged publicly at the Lal Masjid crossing.
Lal Masjid Naib Khateeb Aamir Siddique, who is the nephew of Maulana Abdul Aziz, was also present on the occasion. He said that those providing safe passage to Pervez Musharraf would also be considered murderers of students and teachers of Jamia Hafsa and Lal Masjid. “There should be no safe passage for Musharraf. He should rather be tried in the court of law,” Aamir Siddique said.
The students of Jamia Hafsa were joined by traders of Aabpara Market who distributed sweets among demonstrators. “These sweets are from traders of Aabpara Market,” said a man carrying a basket of sweets for distribution among protesters.
The representatives of traders, while speaking on megaphone, demanded that Pervez Musharraf should be hanged publicly at Aabpara Chowk in Islamabad, Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore or in front of Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi. “He deserves this treatment,” they said.
Speaking on the occasion, Aabpara Traders Association President Ajmal Baloch and others said the coalition government should now fulfil its commitment of restoring all deposed judges within three days.
Some traders used abusive language against Pervez Musharraf and termed his resignation victory of the coalition government and other anti-Musharraf forces. They said that Pervez Musharraf handed over the daughter of the soil, Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, to the US.
On the occasion, the demonstrators burnt an effigy of Pervez Musharraf to vent their anger and hatred against him. Rallies against Pervez Musharraf were also staged at Melody Market, Markaz G-9, and G-9 I&T Centre.
In Rawalpindi, people gathered in front of television sets in shops and hotels resorted to celebrations as Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation. The traffic remained blocked at various points on Murree Road, Iqbal Road, Liaquat Road and College Road due to the celebrations.
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Musharraf's luxury retirement home revealed
The pool has yet to be filled, the curtains yet to be hung. But the new tenant of 1-A Park Road is expected any day soon.
This luxurious home in the quiet suburbs of Islamabad, less than six weeks from completion, has been built by Pervez Musharraf as a retirement home for himself and his wife.
What he had probably not expected when he commissioned the house four years ago was that he might need it as a bolt-hole should his opponents force him from office.
Amid mounting speculation as to whether Mr Musharraf will resign or fight impeachment charges, there has been much talk as to where the President will live. The most likely destinations floated to date include the US, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and even Britain.
But yesterday it was reported that Mr Musharraf was insisting that should he stand down, he wishes to retire to his Mediterranean-style home set in five acres of land.
If he decides to stay, it will be no surprise to Hammad Husain, the architect commissioned by Mr Musharraf.
Yesterday, standing on the driveway of the house in Chak Shahzad, Mr Husain outlined the details of the home that will include a fish-pond, a walking track and an extraordinary amount of barbed wire.
"Most of what you see is his input, along with mine," said Mr Husain, as a team of labourers slaved beneath the blistering sun.
"He has gone into the detail, he has been part of it and comes here to look at things." Mr Husain, a family friend of Musharraf, said the President's wife, Sehba, had chosen th e curtains and fittings for the house, estimated at £1.25m.
Husain said Mr Musharraf had a taste for greenery and that every room in the house was designed to have a view of the surrounding countryside. The property has been designed to be energy efficient, and a shaded terrace will allow the former commando to enjoy an evening cigar.
Mr Husain said the design was understated, and drew a comparison with the tastes of the President's political enemies, Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari, who are trying to force him from office.
Mr Sharif's taste was for ostentatious furniture, he said, while he gently mocked Mr Zardari's £4.5m country estate near Guildford. "This is no Surrey palace," he laughed.
As the President confronts the end of his political career, the property at 1-A comes heavy with irony.
Shortly before Mr Musharraf fired Pakistan's Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry – a move that spectacularly backfired – Mr Chaudhry had initiated a legal challenge that claimed the land in Chak Shahzad was reserved for farming, not residential use. The matter remains unsettled.
So, how do the residents of Chak Shahzad feel about their new neighbour?
"I think there will be no problem. It will be better for all of us," said Sheikh Ahsan, a building consultant who owns a farm nearby. "I think the security will get even better around here."
Another, Mushtaq Ali, a labourer, added: "We are just poor people. What difference can it make to us?"
seems like the judgement day is near, Pakistan ka Allah hafiz.
