Musharraf’s comments came after the ruling PPP prepared a constitutional reforms package that will drastically strip the President’s powers, including to dissolve Parliament and appoint military chiefs. The package is currently being reviewed by the PPP’s coalition partners.

“Someone reported that a plane has landed in Islamabad to take me out of Pakistan. But where is the plane?” Musharraf asked. “Someone was saying that the armed forces have surrounded my house. Someone said that I will leave the country within 48 hours. But now ask those reporters about the credibility of their reports.”

To a question about the Government’s plan to reinstate judges sacked by him during the last year’s Emergency, Musharraf said he would accept the Parliament’s decision in this matter.

“The whole nation will accept the Parliament’s decision to reinstate the judges. I will also accept the decision,” he said.

Musharraf rejected claims by the ruling parties that the Presidency was the centre of conspiracies against the newGovernment. “There is no conspiracy in the Presidency. I am performing my functions according to the Constitution,” he insisted.