The impeachment process would be completed by September 3, information minister Sherry Rehman told reporters here on Monday. Sherry talked to mediapersons after a meeting of the special committee that is drafting the charge sheet. The committee met amid intense political activities in the capital while political circles awaited a decision by President Musharraf to step down.
The speculations received further boost following return of US ambassador Anne Patterson from Washington amid reports that she drove straight to the Army House for an important session with President Musharraf. Pakistan media has been reporting that Musharraf has been unable to talk to the US President despite some frantic calls.
Though the President spokesman declined to confirm the US envoy’s meeting with Musharraf, but diplomatic circles say Musharraf is being advised by his American and European friends to avoid confronting the impeachment motion. It is argued that while the coalition had the numbers for its success the prolonged proceedings would exacerbate tensions and create a situation of instability besides sullying his reputation.
Today was Musharraf’s 65th birthday but no formal function was held and the celebration was confined to family members and a few close friends. Musharraf held another session with his main supporters, PML-Q leaders Chaudhry Shujat Hussain and cousin Chaudhry Pervez Elahi who once again urged him to fight it out.
Shujaat later told reporters that Musharraf had strongly denied Asif Zardari’s allegation that he misappropriated bulk of billion dollar annual US aid for military operation in the tribal region. He said Musharraf was determined to defend such allegations when the impeachment motion is introduced.
But in the evening Musharraf received another bad news about very thin attendance in the parliamentary party meeting of the PML-Q in which only 18 of the nearly 60 party MPs participated. The meeting was held an hour ahead of the National Assembly session which began on Monday. Musharraf summoned the Assembly on a summary sent by Prime Minister. Its agenda includes adoption of a resolution asking him to seek vote of confidence from all newly elected Assemblies but Rehman indicated that it would continue till the impeachment motion is also initiated.
Sherry said the draft committee, which was preparing the charge sheet for the impeachment, would take couple of days more to complete its task. She said it was likely to be a bulky document. Already about 100 pages have been approved by the panel but more would be added. Political observers said the committee was delaying its task as a pressure tactics hoping Musharraf would cave in and quit before the impeachment begins.
She said already the coalition was assured of more than 330 votes that include 305 of its own and about 30 PML-Q and independents.
