Pakistan’s Musharraf could face impeachment

updated 11:06 a.m. ET Aug. 7, 2008

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan’s ruling coalition announced on Thursday that it will seek the impeachment of U.S.-backed President Pervez Musharraf, a move likely to deepen political instability in the country.

Despite his unpopularity in Pakistan, the former general has so far resisted calls to step down and insisted he will serve out his current five-year term after he was elected in a contentious parliamentary vote in October.

Musharraf dominated Pakistan for eight years and became a close U.S. ally after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, but ceded control of the powerful army last year and has been largely sidelined since the coalition parties trounced his allies in February parliamentary elections.

Ruling party chief Asif Ali Zardari declared the decision Thursday was "good news for democracy" in Pakistan. Announcing a joint statement alongside his coalition partners after two days of talks, he said it was "imperative" for them to move for Musharraf's impeachment.

The move against the U.S. ally in the war against terrorism could plunge the nuclear-armed Muslim nation into a new bout of political instability unless former army chief Musharraf, who came to power in a coup nine years ago, decided to go quietly.

The response of the army to the prospect of a humiliating exit for its former chief will be crucial.

Army commanders met in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, close to Islamabad, on Thursday but a military official said "it was a routine meeting."

"The meeting will continue on Friday in which they will discuss issues relating to promotions of brigadiers and other senior officers," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Critical economic impasse
Policies pursued by Musharraf during his eight years in power "have brought Pakistan to a critical economical impasse," said Zardari, the widowed husband of former premier Benazir Bhutto who took charge of her party following her assassination in December.

"His policies have weakened the federation and eroded the trust of the nation in national institutions," Zardari added.

Zardari claimed Musharraf had given a "clear commitment" to resign if his party lost in the February elections and had failed to honor a pledge made by his attorney to the Supreme Court to seek a vote of confidence from the new Parliament.

Zardari also claimed Musharraf had "conspired" with the opposition party against Pakistan's democratic transition.

"The coalition further decided that it will immediately initiate impeachment proceedings. The coalition leadership will present a charge sheet against Gen. Musharraf," Zardari told a news conference, alongside leaders of the other coalition parties.

Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted as prime minister in Musharraf's 1999 coup and is the leader of the second-largest coalition party, said the process of impeachment would start "in the next few days."

Impeaching a president requires a two-thirds majority support of lawmakers in a joint session of both houses of Parliament. Musharraf loyalists maintain the coalition would struggle to muster it, but Zardari expressed confidence they would succeed.

"We hope that 90 percent of the lawmakers will support us," Zardari said.

More pressing issues?
Tariq Azeem, a spokesman for the main pro-Musharraf opposition party, said it would oppose any impeachment of the president.

"We have backed him and voted for him so we are duty bound to support him ... We will oppose impeachment," he said.

He said there were more pressing issues facing the nation, including "runaway inflation" and sharp hikes in the price of food.

MORE FROM SOUTH & CENTRAL ASIA

South & Central Asia Section Front

Musharraf building retirement villa Indian villagers desperate as floods spread U.S. officials: Afghan deaths overstated U.S. leaders, Pakistanis meet secretly Pakistani lawyers press government Report: 100 militants killed in Afghanistan Marine eyes Iraq to Afghanistan shift Dalai Lama admitted to hospital South & Central Asia Section Front   Add South & Central Asia headlines to your news reader: