Impeachment

[malaymishra123]

There it is again-Giving the Army Chief more importance than he is entitled to and a chance and say in the country's politics. And its PPP who's doing it. Funny how they never learn.

[fatman17]

Originally Posted by malaymishra123

There it is again-Giving the Army Chief more importance than he is entitled to and a chance and say in the country's politics. And its PPP who's doing it. Funny how they never learn.

Wham! you have hit it on the nail! it is their in-securities that drives them to do this.

[dr.umer]

Saudi intelligence chief in Pakistan amid Musharraf crisis

ISLAMABAD (AFP) — Saudi Arabia's intelligence chief dashed to Pakistan for talks with the government over its plans to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, a senior official said Saturday.

The visit of Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz came amid speculation that Musharraf could be forced into exile if he bows to pressure from the ruling coalition to quit before he is impeached.

"Yes, Saudi intelligence chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz did visit Pakistan on Friday and met senior government officials," a senior coalition official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"The main purpose of the visit was to find an amicable solution to the (Musharraf impeachment) issue and that no one should become a laughing stock," the official said.

Asked what solution the coalition regarded as acceptable, the official said that "Musharraf should step down" but that it was "really up to Musharraf" if his plans included exile to Saudi Arabia.

"Saudi Arabia is a very strong ally of both Pakistan and the US and the visit was a sincere and friendly effort to interact with all and sundry to settle the issue," the official said.

"The Saudis have very strong bonds of friendship with us. President Pervez Musharraf has also been very close to Riyadh during his rule," the official added.

The ruling coalition announced plans on August 7 to impeach Musharraf. It said on Friday that it plans to file impeachment charges in parliament next week.

Musharraf's spokesman said on Friday that the president would not step down, but allies and coalition officials said that talks were underway to secure a deal that could see him quit to avoid impeachment or prosecution.

[Interceptor]

Musharraf security a high-risk job

Saturday, August 16, 2008

By Muhammad Saleh Zaafir

ISLAMABAD: The security bosses are extremely worried about the security of President Pervez Musharraf if a decision about granting him permission to stay within the country is made once he steps down. He would become 'potential high risk' after coming out of the fortified Presidential Palace and the security chaps ar.e expressing their inability to provide him protection in that eventuality.

Those expected to be entrusted his security are being advised by their near and dear ones to refuse to take such a responsibility.

Musharraf will not be entitled to military protection once he relinquishes the post of the president. In the absence of advanced jamming system against remote control explosives and non-availability of bulletproof shielding would make him more vulnerable to any attempt (on his life). The satellite security system will also not be available to him to provide him advance information about any untoward movement on his route of travelling.

The security of former presidents is vested in police and its special branch and elements after Pervez Musharraf could easily dodge the police arrangements. President Musharraf is working on two options with regard to his imminent resignation. He could submit to the speaker National Assembly either a one line resignation or a point by point response to the charge-sheet to be unfolded by the government any time from now.

The text of both the announcements is ready with the president and he is consulting his close legal experts to fine-tune it. The decision about the mode of his quitting has delayed the announcement.

President Pervez Musharraf had marathon consultations with his old constitutional experts including Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, Abdul Hafiz Pirzada, Malik Qayyum and Senator S M Zafar these days. The later three again met him on Friday on the desire of the president.

It is understood that the so-called political and constitutional experts, who have been discarded by their respective communities, are advising the president to resort to some sort of adventurism as in that eventuality they might become beneficiaries of the broken system.

Highly placed sources told The News that the security personnel are perturbed over the speculation that President Pervez Musharraf could stay back in the country in the event of resignation. He at the same time has hinted to stay in his Islamabad house at Chak Shehzad where he had built his house adjacent to an agro-farm last year.

The president is currently availing the security of armed forces as its supreme commander. He will be left with one orderly provided to any former army general. As former president he is entitled to have a house, car, private secretary, unlimited telephone facility, pension, and free medical treatment both locally and abroad including his dependants and other family members and two civilian security guards.

In case the president is impeached he could be deprived of all the facilities and benefits. Ironically President Musharraf has developed animosity with Pakhtun and Baloch ethnicities of the country. He would be on the hit list of various Sindhi groups because of the killing of Benazir Bhutto. The religious circles are also highly critical of Pervez Musharraf. If he stays in Pakistan the political stability would remain a dream as Pakistan Muslim League (PML) led by Nawaz Sharif would not tolerate him as a free citizen. The PML-N would continue to ask for his trial and it could become a source of confrontation between various political forces. The ladies of Musharraf family are also opposed to the idea of staying back in Pakistan after leaving the office since they consider it would be highly dangerous for him to live in the country once he loses the security curtains.

Fear has been expressed that the security personnel could refuse to perform duties with him after he is out of the office. He narrowly survived two massive attempts on his life in recent years that also killed a number of innocent people.

The sources said the president could resign from the office under Article 44 of the Constitution. Clause (3) of this article says, "The President may, by writing under his hand addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly, resign his office." The impeachment process is carried out under Article 47 of the constitution that deals with the matter with the words "Removal (or impeachment) of President.

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Constitution, the President may, in accordance with the provisions of this Article, be removed from office on the ground of physical or mental incapacity or impeached on a charge of violating the Constitution or gross misconduct.

(2) Not less than one-half of the total membership of either House may give to the Speaker of the National Assembly or, as the case may be, the Chairman written notice of its intention to move a resolution for the removal of, or, as the case may be, to impeach, the President; and such notice shall set out the particulars of his incapacity or of the charge against him.

(3) If a notice under clause (2) is received by the Chairman, he shall transmit it forthwith to the Speaker.

(4) The Speaker shall, within three days of the receipt of a notice under clause (2) or clause (3), cause a copy of the notice to be transmitted to the President.

(5) The Speaker shall summon the two Houses to meet in a joint sitting not earlier than seven days and not later than fourteen days after the receipt of the notice by him.

(6) The joint sitting may investigate or cause to be investigated the ground or the charge upon which the notice is founded.

(7) The President shall have the right to appear and be represented during the investigation, if any, and before the joint sitting.

(8) If, after consideration of the result of the investigation, if any, a resolution is passed at the joint sitting by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of [Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] declaring that the President is unfit to hold the office due to incapacity or is guilty of violating the Constitution or of gross misconduct, the President shall cease to hold office immediately on the passing of the resolution."

Musharraf security a high-risk job

This article goes in detail on Impeachment, note the President can resign, but Impeachment can still go head after his resignation as it is a Parliamentary order and cant be challenged.

[opinion786]

This Mohammed Saleh Zafir was that same person who rumored 2 months back that Musharraf is about to resign and leave the country and a plane is waiting at Chaklala and the family is packing its house up. The rumor caused KSE index to lose 500 points and loss of billions of dollars.

When things will happen...they will happen....till then the government should pay attention to the economy and governance.

[opinion786]

Kayani may be asked to play role : Musharraf — next 72 hours critical

Nobody talks and rumors when the Army Chief Kiyani attends Musharraf's birthday on 11th August?? Where do people like Hamid Mir & Saleh Zafir run off when they have to cover news like these?

The President's morals are extremely high. The President celebrated his 65th birthday, which was attended by the President's close friends, Chairman JSC General Tariq Majid, Army Chief Kiyani and ISI DG General Nadeem Taj and their families.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...-8-2008_pg7_23

also reported by Express Newspaper' of 13 August 2008, on front page.

[ZABMultan]

The sad part is that PPP and PML-N are NOT following the fair rules of the game. Without "charges" given to President and open to the public; taking the matters to Provincial Assemblies is clear example of "Revenge Politics". Pakistan's SC, Civil Society, Army, and ISI should take note of this and STOP this non-sense. Look what Edhi has asid about corrupt politicians and Musharraf.

[M.KHURRAM.KHAN [747 ARMY]]

Musharraf needs to resign he is not well for pakistan his work is to protect pakistan,he is a soldier.no body likes him.in my my opinion musharruf is going.

[abaig]

Originally Posted by M.KHURRAM.KHAN [747 ARMY]

Musharraf needs to resign he is not well for pakistan his work is to protect pakistan,he is a soldier.no body likes him.in my my opinion musharruf is going.

If Musharraf is not good.... you mean to remind us how good Raiwind owner and Mr 10% is good for pakistan?

Yes, maybe nobody likes him...as this country is for chors and not patriots. If Musharraf was eating up foreign reserves and also allowing these politicians to eat in their respective provinces... than all these corrupt jobless politicians would have been happy with Musharraf.

If you want chors, dakoo and murderers to run this country... pls do.

[araz]

Originally Posted by abaig

If Musharraf is not good.... you mean to remind us how good Raiwind owner and Mr 10% is good for pakistan?

Yes, maybe nobody likes him...as this country is for chors and not patriots. If Musharraf was eating up foreign reserves and also allowing these politicians to eat in their respective provinces... than all these corrupt jobless politicians would have been happy with Musharraf.

If you want chors, dakoo and murderers to run this country... pls do.

Nobody doubts that Musharrafs policies have been good for the country initially. However, with the CJ incident and his antics with PPP have made him just another power broker, like Zia or Ayub. I think it would be better for him to move on with dignityand live in peace in Pakistan. Confrontation would not be good for the country and short of Areticle 582 B, he has very few options left. Even that is a half chance as PPP and PML N will win another time in present citrcumstances.
I think Post 2004 Musharaf has had really bad advisers and his attempts to play politics have gone down badly. In any system of election, mistakes like that cost you your seat. So why should this be any different?
Please remember , I am no fan of the present currupt morons presently occupying the chairs of Power.
WaSalam
Araz

[fatman17]

Tariq Ali: Musharraf will not go gentle into that golf course

Sunday, 17 August 2008


Pakistan's military dictators never go quietly. Field Marshal Ayub Khan was removed by a three-month long popular insurrection in March 1969. General Yahya Khan destroyed Pakistan before he departed in 1971. General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq (the worst of the lot) was blown up in his military plane together with the US Ambassador in 1988.


And now President Pervez Musharraf is digging his heels in. There is a temporary stalemate. The army is in favour of him going quietly, but is against impeachment. Washington is prepared for him to go, but quietly. And last Friday it was reported that the chief of Saudi intelligence, Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, had secretly arrived in Pakistan and held talks with coalition leaders and President Musharraf.

He wants a "safe exit" for the president. Sanctuaries in Manhattan, Texas and the Turkish island of Büyükada are being considered. The President would prefer a large estate in Pakistan, preferably near a golf course, but security considerations would make that unfeasible.

One way or another he will go soon. Power has been draining away from him for more than a year now. Had he departed peacefully when his constitutional term expired in November 2007 he would have won some respect. Instead he imposed a state of emergency and sacked the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Now he will go in disgrace, threatened with impeachment and abandoned by most of his cronies.

The country has moved on from a moth-eaten dictatorship to a moth-eaten democracy. Six months after the old, morally obtuse, political gangs returned to power, the climate has further deteriorated. Asif Ali Zardari – the widower of Benazir Bhutto – and his men are extremely unpopular. Removing President Musharraf, who is even more unpopular, might win the politicians some time, but not for long.

There was one hugely diverting moment last week that reminded one of pots and kettles. Mr Zardari, the caretaker leader of the Pakistan People's Party who runs the government and is the second-richest man in the country (funds that accrued when his late wife was prime minister), accused President Musharraf of siphoning official US funds to private bank accounts. For once the noise of laughter drowned the thunder of money.

President Musharraf's departure will highlight the problems that confront the country, which is in the grip of a food and power crisis that is creating severe problems. Inflation is out of control and was approaching the 15 per cent mark in May. The price of gas (used for cooking in many homes) has risen by 30 per cent.

Wheat, the staple diet of most, has seen a 20 per cent price hike since November 2007. Too much wheat is being smuggled into Afghanistan to serve the needs of the Nato armies. The poor are the worst hit, but middle-class families are also affected and, according to a June 2008 survey, 86 per cent of Pakistanis find it increasingly difficult to afford flour on a daily basis, for which they blame their government.

Other problems persist. The politicians are weak and remain divided on the restoration of the judges sacked by President Musharraf. The Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, is the most respected person in the country. Mr Zardari is reluctant to see him back at the head of the Supreme Court. A possible compromise might be to offer him the presidency. It would certainly unite the country for a time.

Over the past 50 years the US has worked mainly with the Pakistan army. This has been its preferred instrument. Nothing has changed. How long before the military is back at the helm?

Tariq Ali's latest book, 'The Duel: Pakistan on the Flight Path of American Power' will be published on 15 September

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