145;Pakistan, Khuda Hafiz146;

Tears welling in his eyes, he gazed at the draft of the speech and signed off 8220;Pakistan, Khuda Hafiz8221;.

Celebrations broke out instantly in streets across the country. If 8220;Banda number do, Amreeka ja kay ro, wardi la kay dho8221; had been doing the rounds ever since he sacked judges last year, his resignation had detractors chanting 8220;Mukk gaya tera show your show is over, go Musharraf go8221;.

But it was unclear whether Musharraf would remain in the country or go to a safe haven abroad 8212; Saudi Arabia or Turkey. There was no confirmation of reports that he may go to Jeddah where PMLN chief Nawaz Sharif, whom he had toppled in October 1999 to grab power, had lived under a deal with Saudi Arabia. It was also not clear whether he was being given immunity by the ruling coalition for his actions.

8220;I may or may not be impeached, but the country will lose in any case. It will lose its dignity and credibility,8221; Musharraf told the nation.

Making an oblique reference to Article 58 2 b of the Constitution by which a President can dissolve Parliament, Musharraf said the government was scared that he may use certain powers he had been granted by the Constitution.

Tearing into the coalition, he read out a laundry list to highlight the steps he had taken to build Pakistan by 8220;taking active interest in building infrastructure, strengthening teledensity of the country, leaving behind a vibrant media and fighting for Pakistan as a soldier in the army.8221;

8220;Main chahoonga ki aap meri baatein sune aur maane I want you to listen and believe what I am saying. Main fauji hoon I am a soldier8230; I want to tell the nation that I have fought two wars for my country. We have built museums, art galleries and conserved our heritage. Pakistan was nowhere on the global map eight years ago. I have engaged myself in political wrestling by reconciling with adverse elements in the interest of my country. My efforts failed to straighten out these issues. Despite all this 8216;they8217; want to impeach me. Why? No charge can be proved against me. Nevertheless, my ideology is still Pakistan first, Sabsey Pehley Pakistan. Had I kept myself above my country, I would have made some other announcement,8221; he said.

He said he was stepping down as President and would let people do justice. 8220;My realistic decision should be accepted.8221;

Even before his address, people everywhere waited in anticipation. Along the Lahore-Islamabad motorway, people held aloft anti-Musharraf banners. As one entered Islamabad, taxi-driver Javed said: 8220;Musharraf will address the nation at 1 pm. I hope he announces his resignation. Mulk ka bahut nuqsaan kiya hai fauj ney the army has harmed the nation a lot8221;.

At Zardari House, coalition partners Pakistan Peoples Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz , Awami National Party and Jamiat-ulema-Islam Fazlur Rehman were meeting to 8220;celebrate victory over the military dictatorship8221;.

It is not clear who will succeed Musharraf. For the time being, Mohammedmian Soomro, chairman of the Senate, will hold interim charge. There is speculation that both Zardari and Sharif are interested in the role but neither has openly said so.

After inspecting a guard of honour, Musharraf left the Presidency 8212; perhaps for the last time. Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, leader of the main pro-Musharraf party, said Musharraf would live in Islamabad. Musharraf owns a farmhouse on the outskirts.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said leaders of the ruling coalition would discuss whether to prosecute Musharraf in court on the impeachment charges.

Qureshi would not say whether Musharraf might be granted a 8220;safe exit8221; 8212; speculation has focused on whether he might go into exile in Saudi Arabia or Turkey. 8220;That is a decision that has to be taken by the democratic leadership,8221; Qureshi told Dawn News television.

The ruling parties also came under immediate pressure from protesting lawyers to meet a promise to restore the ousted judges 8212; a matter fraught with political calculations because of Sharif8217;s vociferous championing of their cause. Law Minister Farooq Naek said both the means and the timing of their restoration remained open.

8212; With agencies