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Deal is done

* Coalition offers president safe passage, security cover if he resigns * Nawaz ready to show flexibility
* President to decide about his future in next few days
* Drop scene expected in few days
* PML-N now less interested in drafting charge sheet

ISLAMABAD: The coalition government has offered indemnity and security to President Pervez Musharraf if he resigns, sources privy to the developments said on Thursday.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif has agreed to change his rigid stance against the president, who is likely to finalise a decision in the next few days. The drop scene is likely in a few days, the sources said.

Charge sheet: A meeting to continue the drafting of a charge sheet against Musharraf could not proceed on Thursday after the PML-N lost interest in the activity, sources said. PML-N leader Ishaq Dar said he could not attend the meeting because he was preoccupied with Independence Day celebrations. Dar – who was a finance minister in the coalition government before all ministers from his party resigned following disagreement on the framework for the restoration of judges sacked by Musharraf on November 3, 2007 – said he would begin attending the meeting when the impeachment proceedings begin.

They said the United States, the United Kingdom and Arab rulers had been pressuring the government for a safe exit for Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup against Nawaz in 1999 and has been a US ally in the international war on terror since September 2001. American and British diplomats reportedly discussed the matter directly with Nawaz Sharif after other parties in the ruling coalition told them Nawaz was not willing to show flexibility.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari – the widower of slain two-time prime minister Benazir Bhutto – and Awami National Party chief Asfandyar Wali said they gave more importance to the moral aspects than the legal ones, according to the sources. Wali told Aaj Kal the outcome of impeachment would be no different from those of previous military rulers, but did not elaborate the statement.

Three of the four provincial assemblies have already passed no-confidence resolutions against the president, demanding that he take a vote of confidence from his electoral college or resign, failing which the coalition government should impeach him under Article 47 of the Constitution.

Musharraf’s allies lost the general elections held on February 18, 2008 to the PPP and the PML-N, who are part of the four-party ruling coalition that also includes the ANP and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl.

The two major partners in the coalition announced they would restore the sacked judges after negotiations in Murree, but could not agree on a framework. In more recent “make-or-break” negotiations, the two parties agreed on impeaching President Musharraf before restoring the judges. aaj kal report

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