Musharraf ready to counter PPP moves to clip his wings

Islamabad, May 22 : Following media reports that the PPP-led coalition government was planning to bring a constitutional package entailing provisions to clip President's powers, Pervez Musharraf has reportedly said that he didn't trust PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, and called upon the PML-Q to strengthen itself both in and out of the Parliament to counter PPP's moves against him.

Reports over the past two days have suggested that the PPP was completing a draft of the constitutional package which would clip Musharraf's powers or would pave the way for his impeachment.

At a meeting of senior leaders of the erstwhile ruling party - the PML-Q here last evening, Musharraf reportedly discussed the proposed constitutional package, and said that he had no confidence in Zardari and did not trust him.

According to sources, the President told the PML-Q leaders that he enjoyed support of the powerful national institutions, the US and some political parties, including the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

President Musharraf advised the PML-Q leaders to devise their strategy to counter any move of the government against him. "President Musharraf told the PML-Q leaders to strengthen their position in the Senate and the National Assembly as well as outside parliament and intensify their interaction with other political parties," The News quoted a source privy to the meeting as saying.

"Former information minister Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani has been assigned a special task to consolidate the party's position in the Senate," added the source.

ANI