Draft chargesheet against Musharraf ready

Islamabad, August 16: Pakistan’s ruling coalition has finished drafting impeachment charges against President Pervez Musharraf and handed it over to the Minister of Law for scrutiny. The charges focus on violation of the Constitution and misconduct, Ahsan Iqbal, member of the drafting team said on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan People’s Party-led coalition is likely to approach Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to negotiate a deal between Musharraf and the four-party ruling alliance to end the political impasse, a senior party leader told the Daily Times newspaper.

The PPP leader, however, said Musharraf was expected to quit within the next 72 hours. “If he continues to stick to his position and does not resign, it will create a situation leaving the Government with no option but to ask the army chief to intervene and help resolve the political crisis,” he said.

The President’s spokesman, however, insisted that Musharraf would not resign but face the accusations. But negotiations on an exit for the president cannot be denied, officials said, while media has reported important ally Saudi Arabia has been trying to help mediate a solution.

The long-running crisis surrounding Musharraf’s future has heightened concern in the United States and other allies about the stability of the nuclear-armed Muslim state.