Zardari says Presidency the right of PPP after Musharraf

Lahore, Aug 16 : Dropping enough hints that differences might emerge within the ruling four-party coalition, especially the PML-N, over who would be the next Pakistan President after Pervez Musharraf, PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said that his party had the legitimate right over the post as it was the biggest party among the coalition partners.

The majority party, the PPP, had the right to appoint its own president once Musharraf was gone, the Daily Times quoted Zardari as saying.

Separately, in an interview with the Dawn News, Zardari said that political differences between the PPP and the PML-N were bound to emerge after Musharraf's removal, but the coalition would not fall apart.

Notably, over the past few days PML-N leader and former premier Nawaz Sharif had also staked the claim for the post, saying that the next President should come from a smaller province. Geographically, the NWFP is the smallest province which is being presently rules by the ANP (Awami National Party).

Zardari further said that Musharraf would have to resign or face impeachment as there was no third option. "The trial of Musharraf is also not impossible," he said and added that it was up to the coalition partners and the people of Pakistan to decide Musharraf's fate after impeachment.

To a question about senior PPP leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim's possible support for the president in case of impeachment, Zardari said the Sindh Assembly had given its verdict, and asked what the president was left with if he did not even have the support of one MPA.

ANI