Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Saturday that there would be no need for impeachment against the President if he resigns before the move. Talking to media persons at the local airport the foreign minister said that the President may step down before the impeachment proceedings are initiated in the parliament.
He said the President may resign sooner or later, but if he does not do so, the impeachment proceedings will start and continue till its logical end. To a question, the foreign minister said no foreign pressure is being exerted on the government regarding the impeachment move and several countries have already expressed that they honour the Pakistani law and its Constitution as the impeachment proceedings are being pursued within the ambit of the Constitution.
Qureshi, to another question, said that all the four provincial assemblies, the federating units, have demanded resignation of the President. He said from all quarters and from all forums like ex-diplomats, ex-servicemen, and even many of those who represent the PML-Q, the demand has been voiced that the President should resign.
The foreign minister said the prevalent atmosphere of uncertainty is causing political and economic instability, so it will be in the fitness of things if the President opts for relinquishing the Presidency so that stability is revived.
He said the impeachment move was decided after consultations with the coalition partners to attain stability in the country, which is very dear to the nation and necessary to safeguard its vital interests. He said the ultimate gain will be the strengthening of democratic institutions.
Qureshi said the mandate given by the people when Shaheed Benazir Bhutto landed at Karachi on October 18 and then on February 18 in the general elections depicted that they wanted democracy and rejected dictatorship. He observed that transition from dictatorship to democracy is very delicate and the way is littered with many pitfalls. So, the way is being paved for a firm democracy, he said.
Qureshi said the demand for resignation is unanimous, and that even trade leaders in the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) have written to President Musharraf to resign so that the economic instability could end.
To a question about a safe exit for the President, he said the President is short of time and he must quit before the start of the impeachment proceedings. He said any decision about his safe exit will be taken by consultation among coalition partners, but that is possible only if the President pre-empts the impeachment and steps down.
To another question, Qureshi said that the coalition partners will discuss the matter of the next President and the decision in this regard will be taken with consensus. Fielding a query, he said PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has not so far expressed a willingness to become President, but if he so desires, his wish will be honoured and given due weight.