Impending impeachment: Mush in big trouble

Islamabad: President Musharraf seems to be in big trouble.

The PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) has announced that the chargesheet for his impeachment will be out in a few days.

Meanwhile, the President is fast losing allies.

The North-west frontier provincial assembly has supported his impeachment with an overwhelming majority.

The Sindh and Balochistan Assemblies are also likely to follow suit.

Media reports say that only 14 out of his party's 54 MPs are still with him. Even the US seems to be abandoning him after Senator Tom Harkin said that Musharraf must quit.

The 100 page long chargesheet accuses him of misconduct of violating the constitution and financial irregularities.

So, will Pakistan President Pervez Musharaff quit after delivering his Independence Day speech on Thursday?

While the speculation mounts, President Musharraf's party is hopeful of an honourable exit for their leader.

Vice-President of the PML-Q and adviser to Musharraf, S M Zafar was quoted as saying that his departure before impeachment gets underway was a good option.

Another party leader, Pervaiz Elahi said Musharraf would not face impeachment charges implying he could quit or even take the extreme option of dissolving the National Assembly.

Musharraf's Spokesperson Rashid Kureshi told CNN-IBN, "The President has no intention of resigning. He will be addressing the nation tonight at 8:30 pm (2100 hrs IST). This will be the Independence Day address. The impeachment motion against him has no legal basis and all the allegations against him are false."

The last option would require the assent of the US and the involvement of the army, both of which have distanced themselves from Musharraf.

The President may clarify his plans when he addresses the nation tonight.

Meanwhile the Sindh Assembly is debating the impeachment motion.