Musharraf should quit ‘voluntarily and promptly’: British media

A leading British newspaper suggested that former military ruler should quit ‘voluntarily and promptly’.

Amidst Pakistan’s ruling coalition’s plans to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, a leading British newspaper on Thursday suggested that former military ruler should quit “voluntarily and promptly”.

“It would serve Pakistan’s interests if Mr Musharraf anticipated the moves to impeach him, and left office voluntarily and promptly,” The Times said in an editorial.

“Pakistan’s transition from martial law to stable constitutional government is at an impasse. Something must give. That something should be Mr Musharraf,” it said.

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Musharraf seized power from then prime minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup in 1999. He stepped down as army chief in December 2007 after he was elected as president for another five-years term in a controversial election.

Meanwhile, according to the media reports Pakistan People’s Party and the PML(N) have finalised a draft declaration on the impeachment of the President, an unnamed PPP member of the cabinet, who participated in discussions between the parties, was quoted as saying a news channel.

Asif Ali Zardari, the head of the PPP and Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League(N), will formally request that he steps down, and impeach him through parliamentary measures if he refuses to do so, The Times said.

“Musharraf cannot stay in power anymore,” Ahsan Iqbal, a spokesman for the Pakistan Muslim League, said.

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