Lawmakers pile pressure on Musharraf

Islamabad: The assembly in Pakistan's most powerful province on Tuesday declared President Pervez Musharraf unfit for office and demanded he step down.

The resolution passed by 321 votes to 25 by the Punjab assembly has no constitutional weight, but is intended to crank up political pressure on Musharraf as the ruling coalition gears up to impeach him.

No sign of quitting

Lawmakers chanted "Go Musharraf Go!" as the result was announced in Lahore. But Musharraf has shown no sign of quitting.

The resolution accused him of violating the constitution, gross misconduct and economic mismanagement. It called on the president to seek a vote of confidence from federal and provincial lawmakers or resign. Otherwise the assembly will ask Parliament to impeach him.

In a sign of weakening support for the president, some 35 lawmakers from the pro-Musharraf party - who several weeks ago signalled their willingness to defect to a coalition party - voted in favour of the resolution. Some 23 others were absent from the voting.