Pervez may use power to sack govt
By Shafqat Ali
Islamabad
Aug. 7: There was hectic activity at the Presidency in Islamabad on Thursday as Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf consulted his aides to counter the impeachment motion.
"The use of Article 58-2 (B) (to dissolve the assemblies) is a possibility. There can be other settlements too," a source close to the President told this newspaper.
In a relevant move, President Musharraf cancelled his visit to China where he was to witness the inaugural ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani will now attend the ceremony in Beijing.
The PPP and PML(N) spent three days in talks before arriving at the decision. On Wednesday, the constituents of the ruling coalition had arrived at a deadlock.
On Tuesday, too, Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif held a marathon meeting and decided to hold another session of talks on Wednesday and engage other coalition partners.
According to sources, President Musharraf said if the ruling coalition tabled a motion against him in Parliament he would personally defend himself. According to the sources, PML-Q leaders assured President Musharraf of their full support.
Meanwhile, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday said all the judges deposed by the President using what he termed super-constitutional measures would be restored after the President’s impeachment as per the Murree Declaration between the PPP and PML(N), but he did not give any date.
Terming the joint declaration (with PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif on Thursday) as good news for the nation, Mr Zardari said democratic forces will work together to strengthen real democracy in the country.
"A chargesheet will be issued against the President," he added. The policies pursued by the Musharraf-led government are responsible for the "economic impasse and worst power shortage in history," he said.
"It has now become imperative to impeach President Pervez Musharraf under Article 47," said Mr Zardari. Asked for his response if the President withdrew the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), Mr Zardari said, "I have spent eight years in jail and I am not afraid of being jailed again. The NRO is just a political statement. It has no legal standing."
The NRO was promulgated by President Musharraf before the February election to withdraw political cases against assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Mr Sharif and other politicians, including Mr Zardari. Speaking on the occasion, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said both the PPP and his party had drafted the joint statement read out by Mr Zardari after a detailed exchange of views.
"This is crystal clear — Musharraf has to go. He should long have been gone," he said.
Asked what if the President sacked the government in reaction, Mr Sharif said, "This is not the government of the 1990s when Presidents would sack governments when they were running smoothly. Times have changed. The media has become more active, the people have become aware, so he can’t just kick out the government."
Mr Sharif said he will take a decision on Friday (today) regarding rejoining the Cabinet. "I accept the decisions of Asif Ali Zardari and will announce my decision," he added, indicating his party’s return to the Cabinet. He said cases might be framed against President Musharraf after he has been impeached.
"I have noted this suggestion," he added. He accused President Musharraf of derailing the country’s economy, law and order and democracy. "He has no right to remain in power," said Mr Sharif.
On Tuesday, PML-N leader Shahbaz Sharif, after his meeting with Mr Zardari, flew to Karachi for talks with Asfandyar Wali and Maulana Fazal-ur Rehman on issues including impeachment of President Musharraf and reinstatement of deposed judges.