Click to play videoIslamabad: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on Monday announced that he was resigning from his post in the face of an impending impeachment motion by the ruling coalition government.
Musharraf announced his decision in a 75-minute televised speech in which he flayed attempts to impeach him but said he was avoiding confrontation for the sake of stability.
"No impeachment or charge-sheet can stand against me. But I think this is not the time for individual bravado—this is the time for serious thought. In the interest of the country, I have decided to resign,” he said.
“The resignation will reach the National Assembly Speaker shortly," the 65-year-old former army chief said in an emotional internationally televised address.
Sources told CNN-IBN that Musharraf’s speech was pre-recorded and he is likely to go to Jeddah as a state guest of Saudi Arabia. He would stay at the same palace where former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the man he deposed, stayed during his exile. Sources say that Musharraf won't face trial.
"I wanted to help the Government but they never listened to me. Now they want to impeach me. No charge will be proved against me. Impeachment will never be right for the country. Impeachment will be defeat to the country.”
“Keeping everything in mind, I have decided to resign. God was always kind (and) we faced every challenge. This day is important for me. I have to take an important decision.”
“I have fought two wars for Pakistan and still have enthusiasm for another.”
Musharraf asserted that all his decisions during his nine-year rule were in "national interest" as he recounted the "achievements" in all areas.
"Now, they want to impeach me. Are they afraid of my Constitutional powers? Impeachment and charge-sheet is Parliament's right. To give a reply is my right.
"No charge-sheet can stand against me. No charge can be proved against me. I have this much confident in myself because I have not done anything for myself. Whatever I have done, I have done for Pakistan, its people. Whatever the charge-sheet I have no fear," Musharraf said.
"But questions arise as to what impact the impeachment will have on the country. Whether the country will descend into further instability and confrontation. Whether the office of Presidency should come under pressure. Should it come under impeachment procedure?"
Musharraf showered praises on his rule saying that he had stalled moves to declare Pakistan a terrorist state and he had brought economic growth to the country.
“In last nine years I have worked very hard and faced all challenges. I have withstood every challenge. We have seen growth in everything from GDP to foreign exchange reserve,” he said.
Musharraf claimed he had brought the "essence of democracy" in Pakistan. "Being an army man, I am perceived as anti-democratic. But earlier democracy was just a label on a bottle. I brought the essence to it by successfully holding elections. The February 18 polls were free, fair and transparent".
Pakistan Senate Chairperson Mohammad Mian Soomro will become the acting president after Musharraf leaves office. A new president has to be elected by an electoral college made up of members of both houses of Pakistan’s Parliament and four provincial assemblies within 30 days.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Asif Ali Zardari has that the next President might be a woman.
Speculation that the former army chief and US ally will resign had been mounting since the coalition government, led by the Pakistan People’s Party, said in August it planned to impeach him.
Prolonged jockeying and uncertainty over Musharraf's position has hurt Pakistan's financial markets and raised concern in Washington and among other allies it is distracting from efforts to control violent militants in the nuclear-armed nation.
The ruling coalition had prepared impeachment charges against Musharraf focusing on violation of the constitution and misconduct. Coalition officials had indicated that Musharraf could quit and avoid impeachment.
Coalition officials said last week Musharraf was ready to quit but was demanding immunity from prosecution. Musharraf seized power in a 1999 coup but has been isolated since his allies lost a February election.
All four provincial assemblies have passed resolutions in recent days pressing him to resign and several old allies have joined the campaign against him.
The political battling over Musharraf's fate has sapped investor confidence and there has been criticism it has taken government attention away from economic problems. Pakistani stocks are near two-year lows, while its currency has lost nearly a quarter of its value this year. Pakistan also faces major fiscal problems, with Saudi Arabia's help critical to defer an estimated $5.9 billion worth of oil payments.
The coalition government welcomed Musharraf's decision to quit. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said Musharraf's exit would bring political stability to Pakistan. “It is a realistic decision (and) it will bring political stability. It'll remove uncertainty and democracy should gain strength,” said Qureshi.
PPP co-chairperson Bilawal Bhutto, son of assassinated PPP leader Benazir Bhutto, said that the path to democracy has been cleared with Musharraf's exit.
"The biggest hurdle in the way of democracy has been removed. I am sure we will solve all the problems of the country. The PPP is firm on getting an independent judiciary," he said.
With Musharraf gone, analysts say the government will have to tackle Pakistan’s many challenges like restoring stability, improving the economy and combat terrorism.
(With inputs from PTI, Reuters and AP)
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