PAKISTAN: PAKISTAN'S PARLIAMENT is set to put forward today or tomorrow a motion to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, who has so far stubbornly resisted intense pressure to resign.
Back-channel negotiations between the government and Mr Musharraf have not so far produced a deal, though he is still most likely to resign rather than face impeachment proceedings. But if he decides to go, it could happen as early as today.
An aide revealed the president is now plotting to have the final say, rebutting whatever accusations are levelled against him, then finally quitting before the impeachment hearings begin. According to sources close to Mr Musharraf, his camp is split between those who want him to fight on and others urging him to go now.
A middle position may have emerged. It is understood that he is considering waiting for the government to publish the "charge sheet" against him, after which he will call a press conference where he will reject the allegations and then resign.
The main pro-Musharraf party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Q, is concerned that it will be badly damaged, by association, if he goes out with a whimper.
One unnamed presidential supporter said: "We want him to defend himself, not just dump us and leave.
"Once and for all, he should answer all those questions."
Mr Musharraf suspended the constitution for six weeks towards the end of last year. Subversion of the constitution is one of the grounds for impeachment.
Although the president cannot muster enough support to beat the parliamentary motion, analysts believe he does hold some strong cards. The government has been heavily lobbied by western allies and Pakistan's powerful army, which do not want to see messy and risky impeachment proceedings.
Mr Musharraf presided over Pakistan's role in the US "war on terror" and issues such as Pakistani terror suspects - hundreds of whom disappeared - could feature in the prosecution.
"Nobody wants the Pandora's box opened up," said Najam Sethi, editor of Pakistan's Daily Times. "The issue of impeachment is really a non-starter."
- (Guardian)