"It is up to President Musharraf to take a decision to step down or face the impeachment against him," said Shujaat Hussain, President of PML-Q while talking to journalists an Valima ceremony of his son Salik Hussain in a local hotel on Sunday.
He said that PML-Q would take a decision on future line of action regarding the President's impeachment proceedings in a meeting later in the day.
He said that the coalition, not on the principles but illegally, had initiated the move of impeachment against the President. He said that the President did not intend to use Art 58(2) B for dissolution of the assembly.
Pervaiz Elahi, Leader of Opposition in National Assembly, present on the occasion, said that they would finally embark upon a strategy to counter impeachment proceedings when it would be presented in the National Assembly. He added that any impeachment move against the President was of no constitutional or legal status.
Elahi said that PPP's impeachment move decision should rest with Amin Fahim as he felt that he remained the chairman of the Party. He said that impeachment was another issue and by dwelling upon it the coalition had thrown the issue of reinstatement of judges at a back seat.
He said that coalition had initiated horse trading on the issue, and impeachment issue had put the country in a severe crisis. In unequivocal terms he said that they would defend the President against impeachment move. About the legality of resolutions against the President in provincial assemblies he said that they did not have a legal status.
Nisar Memon said that the coalition, by embarking upon impeachment proceedings against the President, had defeated principle set by Benazir. He said that impeachment move would convert into trial of the government in the days to come. Memon said that impeachment would be tantamount to an attack on a pillar of parliament, which would endanger the security of the country.
Manzur Wattoo, present in the function, said that if the President took decision of resigning, the move would not culminate. He said in case of the President's decision to resign, safe passage for him could be thought over. A large number of political activists and leaders were present at the function.