Ex-Pak diplomats hail Gilani govt's decision to impeach Musharraf

Islamabad, Aug 13 : As many as 28 former Pakistani diplomats, including ex-foreign secretaries and ambassadors, have reportedly hailed the present day coalition government's resolve to bring about an Impeachment Motion against President Pervez Musharraf and reinstate the deposed Supreme Court judges.

The ex-envoys appreciated the federal government's decision in a statement released after holding a meeting in Islamabad last evening.

The statement said: "Musharraf has continued to cling to the office of the president defying the clear verdict of the nation in the February 18 elections. The people had voted against his dictatorship and steps taken on November 3, 2007."

"Since the Supreme Court was prevented, by the illegal removal from office of judges who refused to take oath under PCO, from ruling on the validity of General Musharraf's 'election' in October 2007, we support the government's decision to impeach him under Article 47 of the Constitution and call upon the government to bring these proceedings to a speedy conclusion," the Daily Times quoted the statement as saying.

Through the statement, the diplomats demanded of the government to hold Musharraf accountable under the Constitution, in particular Article 6, and other legal provisions for his actions.

The diplomats also reiterated their demand to reinstate the judges without further delay through executive and administrative steps. "We call upon the government to take these steps simultaneously with the commencement of the impeachment proceedings rather than after their conclusion," the statement said.

The diplomats expressed solidarity with lawyers and the civil society in their efforts to bring rule of law in the country.

ANI