Two-thirds majority (295 votes) is required for impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf. The two main coalition partners, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) "have more than the required numbers," said PML-N central senior vice president Javed Hashmi while talking to newsmen on Saturday.
As per procedures, 50 percent members of parliament have to sign the motion for impeachment, which will then be submitted to National Assembly Speaker. According to him, when the motion would be sent to President he would have the authority to inquire about the impeachment, or convey the message to the Speaker that he (President) is ready to plead his case in the National Assembly. "Once the President will come to the house, we (coalition partners) will bring impeachment against him and he will be ousted," he claimed.
He said that all the four provincial assemblies will hold their sessions and pass a vote of no-confidence against President Musharraf. This vote of no-confidence would then be referred to Federation, asking the Centre to move impeachment action against President Musharraf, he said, and added: "This is an electoral college, and the vote of no-confidence against President should be an eye-opener for him".
When asked whether they would seek support from Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), he said: "MQM are such people that when they will see that President is being ousted they will automatically come with us." As per press reports, the government is planning to convene the session on August 11, since it wants to complete the process of impeachment by the end of the current month.
Hashmi said all coalition partners were taken into confidence prior to issuance of the joint statement, carrying important decisions with regard to strengthening of democracy and independence of judiciary.
He said the ruling coalition has so far not decided new candidate for the slot of President. However, he said, a unanimous decision would be taken in this connection, after impeachment of the President, which is not an easy task. He underlined the need for giving prompt relief to the masses to mitigate their financial sufferings due to increasing food inflation.