<b>'Modalities for Musharraf's ouster settled': Impeachment move deferred</b>
<b>ISLAMABAD - As the modalities for President Musharrafâs ouster have almost been settled and most likely he would be stepping down in the next couple of days, the coalition partners have also deferred putting in action the impeachment process.
Some authentic sources confirmed to The Nation that finally President Musharraf had decided to call it a day and the formal announcement in this connection will be made in the next couple of days.</b>
These sources, having inroads both in the ruling coalition and the Presidency, said that all the modalities for President Musharrafâs ouster were settled and there were both local and foreign guarantors to the deal.
And above all the Armed Forces of Pakistan, though not standing with their former chief in his present âpursuitâ to contest impeachment motion, would not tolerate their former chief humiliated and drummed out through impeachment and consequently facing of charges under Article 6 of the Constitution.
Some political analysts suggested that the real pressure on Musharraf to quit the office of President was coming from military top brass and he had actually caved in to that pressure and was least intimidated by the politiciansâ move.
A source said that though Armed Forces of the country wanted him to leave the office of President and to that extent they were not supporting him, on the point of his impeachment and his forced ouster from the Presidency, there was strong view among the men in Khaki, who would take it as an insult to their institution.
The sources further disclosed that President Musharraf was earlier demanding to see the charge sheet before taking some final decision about his future, but after the passage of resolutions from all the four provincial assemblies demanding with overwhelming majority that he should fresh vote of confidence or quit, virtually pushed him, to the corner and he had been left with no option but to quit.
The sources in the ruling coalition informed TheNation that the chessboard readied by the political dispensation had worked and with the issue of Presidentâs ouster as per their wishes, all the ruling coalition wanted to get rid of him without entangling into any controversy.
The sources further disclosed that the deferment of tabling impeachment resolution and charge sheet for a few days was part of that strategy, as earlier they were ready to set the impeachment process in action by Monday.
On Sunday Ms Sherry Rehman said that the charge sheet against President Musharraf was final but the same would be tabled after getting final nod on it from the coalition partners in next couple of days.
The sources privy to the developments taking place on the front said that the things would not go to that extent and President Musharraf would step down âvery soonâ.
These sources further disclosed that it was agreed upon between the stakeholders that President Musharraf would be given complete immunity and would be given a free hand to stay here or leave for abroad on his own sweet will.
Under the agreement he could not be tried in any court of law in the country likewise no question would be raised about his assets both in Pakistan and abroad.
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