More Pakistani lawmakers push Musharraf to resign

Karachi: A third Pakistani provincial assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution to push President Pervez Musharraf to quit.

The opposition boycotted the vote in Sindh province, letting the resolution pass with the support of 93 lawmakers. Of the four provinces in Pakistan, only the assembly of Baluchistan has yet to pass a similar resolution.

The resolution accuses Musharraf of violating the constitution and gross misconduct, and it demands that he seek votes of confidence from parliament and the provinces or resign. Otherwise, lawmakers are to push for his impeachment.

The provincial assembly resolutions all have passed with large margins, and leaders of the main parties in the ruling coalition have said an impeachment motion could be set before Parliament next week.

Western observers say it appears there's little possibility of Musharraf hanging on to the presidency. It's only a question of whether he will leave quietly or try to fight the impeachment charges, but in either case the odds appear against him.

Still, in a country known for its political turbulence, predictions are often wrong.

The Sindh resolution was approved amid shouts of "Go, Musharraf, Go!" and desk thumping.

“This resolution is against the authoritarian regime of Musharraf. If he cares a little bit about his honour and dignity he must resign forthwith,'' assembly member and provincial Information Minister Shazia Mari said.

Jam Madad Ali of the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Q said the resolution was “unconstitutional and illegal'' and pledged continued support for the embattled leader.

Musharraf has the constitutional power to dissolve Parliament, but doing that would be very controversial and require backing from a military trying to distance itself from politics.

In an interview with Geo TV aired Wednesday, the head of the main ruling party said he had asked Musharraf to resign via an emissary two months ago.

“He may consider himself a master tactician - that is a tactician of war not a tactician of politics,'' said Zardari, the widower and political successor of slain ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. “He does not know the ground reality.''