'PPP-PML N to impeach Musharraf on Aug 11'

Islamabad, Aug 7: In the end Musharraf's fate has been decided. Pakistan's two main ruling coalition allies PPP-PML N said on Thursday, Aug 7 that they have reached an 'understanding on impeaching President Pervez Musharraf and reinstating judges sacked by him last year. Nawaz Sharif's PML(N) declared that the two steps will be taken 'within days'.

Musharraf, on Thursday, Aug 7 delayed his departure to China for attending the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympic for the second time in a row and is now slated to leave in the evening. Musharraf was scheduled to leave for Beijing at 8 AM but official sources said he had deferred his departure till the evening. The President had abruptly cancelled his scheduled visit to China on Wednesday, Aug 6 after it was reported that the PPP-led coalition was planning to impeach him.

The Foreign Office later announced that Musharraf had rescheduled his visit.

After three days of marathon talks, PML-N leaders said the two parties had reached broad agreement on the two issues. PPP sources said that the two parties had been able to resolve differences that had arisen following Musharraf suddenly approving a proposal to reinstate eight judges of the Sindh High Court whom he had sacked during last year's emergency rule.

PML-N spokesman Siddique-ul-Farooq said the impeachment of Musharraf would be followed by the restoration of the deposed judges 'within 24 hours'. He told the mediapersons, "I think it may take days, not weeks. Both the (impeachment and reinstatement of deposed judges) will be completed within days."

Farooq also said both parties cannot 'afford further delays' on the impeachment and restoration of the deposed judges, the two thorny issues they have grappled with since they formed a coalition in March.

Senior PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal, a confidant of Sharif, said, "I can say that an understanding has been reached on all important issues and we will present the outcome of our consultations before the nation. I am very hopeful that it will be a positive outcome."

OneIndia News