Immunity from prosecution and a “safe exit” have reportedly been offered by the ruling coalition to the the 65-year-old former commando, provided he steps down before the impeachment proceedings are launched in Parliament.
There was also talk of a purely ceremonial presidency for the former army chief who has, however, maintained that he would face any impeachment and that he saw no reason to resign because he had been constitutionally elected.
A 100-page chargesheet, which will include serious charges of murder, subversion of democracy and embezzlement of funds, is being drawn up the coalition for being presented to Parliament. But Musharraf has given no indication that he will give up the power which he seized nine years ago by toppling then premier Nawaz Sharif, currently heading the PML(N).
Mark Lyall Grant, former British High Commissioner to Pakistan, and currently Director General in the Political Directorate of the UK Foreign Office, has met both Musharraf and Sharif to discuss a safe exit for the President.
Information Minister Sherry Rehman said that the ruling coalition has finished deliberations on the impeachment charges. The chargesheet will now go to coalition leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Sharif within the next three days for final approval before it goes to Parliament.
Musharraf’s spokesman, retired Major-General Rashid Qureshi, said rumours of a resignation plan were baseless and malicious. But Tariq Azeem Khan, a politician close to Musharraf and a former deputy Government minister, said talks were going on.
Meanwhile, the US said the struggles of Pakistan’s new Government are an internal political matter that its leaders must sort out for themselves.
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