Gilani says it's better for Musharraf to seek vote-of-confidence, else he'll be impeached

Beijing, Aug 10 : Amid the impending Impeachment Motion against Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, which is likely to be tabled in the National Assembly tomorrow, the country's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has advised Musharraf to seek a fresh vote-of-confidence from the parliament, otherwise, he added, the parliament had the sovereign right to remove him through Impeachment.

"Musharraf is required to obtain a fresh vote of confidence from parliament. Otherwise, parliament, being a sovereign and independent body, has the option to exercise the right to impeach him," The News quoted Gilani as saying in Beijing where he had gone to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

Talking to journalists in Beijing, the Prime Minister said that the people had voted in the February 18 general election for a 'clear-cut' change and for putting the country on the track of true democracy.

"The people will soon get good news about the dawn of democracy in the country," Gilani said, and added: "Parliament is sovereign and has the authority to take major decisions, including impeachment of the President."

Gilani said he had been working with the President according to the requirements of the Constitution, and he did not feel it was appropriate that Musharraf should prolong his stay in office against the wishes of the people.

The PPP-led government is likely to move an impeachment motion against Musharraf in parliament tomorrow, but prior to this the four provincial assemblies will pass resolutions demanding that Musharraf should immediately seek a vote of confidence from parliament in line with a commitment he had made to the Supreme Court last year.

ANI