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Uncertainties linger after Musharraf's resignation
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-19 23:41 ISLAMABAD -- Despite repeated denials about his possible resignation by the presidential spokesman, Pervez Musharraf eventually stepped down as the Pakistani President Monday, claiming that the decision was made for the sake of national interest.
Resignation is inevitable Musharraf's resignation was considered by many people, including his proponents, as a matter of course under the current circumstances. His popularity plummeted as Musharraf declared a state of emergency on Nov. 3, 2007 and sacked around 60 judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. In the general elections that was held on Feb. 18, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged as two largest parties in the National Assembly, defeating the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q). The PPP and PML-N in March agreed to form a coalition government taking two other parties into confidence. At the same time, the pro-Musharraf PML-Q chose to sit in the opposition and could hardly rival with the ruling coalition in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies. On Aug. 7, the ruling coalition initiated proceedings of impeachment. Soon, four provincial assemblies passed resolutions against Musharraf, asking him to take a vote of confidence or resign. In response to the coalition's bid to impeach Musharraf, the United States, which had been bolstering him whenever he faced a crisis before, said it was "the internal politics of Pakistan internal affair". |
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