Musharraf loyalists may now pay the price

Dubai: More heads will roll following the resignation of Pervez Musharraf, highly placed sources in Pakistan told Gulf News. Tariq Aziz, a top Musharraf loyalist, who is also secretary-general of the National Security Council flew to London on Monday a few hours before Musharraf's resignation.

Salman Taseer, Governor of Punjab, is on the top of the list of people to be removed as he was appointed by Musharraf to counter the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government in the largest province of the country.

Also on the "removal list' are Nawab Zulfiqar Magsi, the governor of Balochistan and Owais Ahmad Gani, the governor of North West Frontier Province. "We are committed to having 'real' democracy in the country and we will get rid of all those who helped dictatorship to flourish in the country," said Ahsan Iqbal, a top PML-N leader.

"Although Musharraf has succeeded in getting 'safe exit' people around him fear trials and most of them have already fled the country for fear of being arrested," sources said.

Gulf News has learnt he decided to resign only after getting guarantees from foreign negotiators, especially from two Arab countries.

'Safe exit'

Sources said the chief of Saudi intelligence, Prince Muqrin Bin Abdulaziz, had played a major role in getting a "safe exit" for Musharraf as he held meetings with the coalition leaders and Musharraf during a recent visit. Musharraf will go to Saudi Arabia to perform Umra soon, and is expected to stay there for sometime.

Nawaz Sharif has also agreed to "go easy" on Musharraf after requests from Arab countries.