Pakistan's President Musharraf steps down

[belfastuniguy 18]

Pakistan's Musharraf steps down

President Musharraf announces his resignation on TV

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, facing impeachment on charges drawn up by the governing coalition, has announced that he is resigning.

He went on national TV to say that while he was confident the charges would not stand, this was not the time for more confrontation.

He is accused of violation of the constitution and gross misconduct.

The Speaker of the Pakistani Senate, Muhammad Mian Sumroo, automatically took over as caretaker president.

Mr Musharraf has been a key ally of the US in its "war on terror" since he took power in a bloodless coup in 1999.

Reaction in Pakistan is overwhelmingly one of relief that a bruising and lengthy impeachment battle has been avoided, the BBC's Mark Dummett reports from Islamabad.

I leave myself in the hands of the people Pervez Musharraf Musharraf's mixed legacy Strongman and war on terror Musharraf in pictures India fears power vacuum

The key issue now is whether the ruling coalition, which had pushed for Mr Musharraf's exit since winning the February election, can stay united and deliver on its promises, he says.

It will have to agree on a new president, then persuade allies like the US and UK, and its neighbours like India and Afghanistan, that it will be committed to defeating militancy and terrorism, our correspondent adds.

International reaction to Mr Musharraf's resignation was mixed, with the US hailing him as strong ally against terrorism but Afghanistan welcoming his departure as a boost to democracy.

'No bravado'

Looking calm and dressed soberly in a dark suit and tie, Mr Musharraf said he had decided to resign after consulting his allies and advisers.

Pakistan faces hope and risk

In a defiant speech, he said he had believed it was his destiny to save Pakistan, helped by God, and that he had prevented it from being declared a terrorist state.

In a clear reference to his political opponents, he accused unnamed elements of putting themselves above the country and seeking to betray it.

"Not a single charge can be proved against me," he said, while conceding he had made mistakes.

An impeachment process would have plunged the country into more uncertainty, he said, and it was no time for "individual bravado".

The outgoing president listed social, economic and infrastructural improvements made during his rule.

"I leave myself in the hands of the people," he concluded.

After making his speech, the former military leader inspected a guard of honour outside his white palace in Islamabad, stepped into a black limousine and left the presidency.

Cheering crowds poured into the streets of Pakistan's big cities to celebrate Mr Musharraf's departure. In Karachi, lawyers danced in jubilation.

'A friend to the US'

The caretaker president is a member of the pro-Musharraf faction of the Pakistan Muslim League.

MUSHARRAF KEY DATES 12 Oct 1999: Deposes PM Nawaz Sharif in coup 20 June 2001: Names himself president while remaining head of the army 12 Jan 2002: Declares war against extremism in Pakistan 14 December 2003: Survives first of several assassination plots 3 November 2007: Declares state of emergency before judiciary can rule on his re-election as president 28 November 2007: Steps down as army chief to become a civilian president 18 August 2008: Announces he will resign as president Resignation speech excerpts Reaction in quotes

The eventual new president must be elected by both houses of Pakistan's parliament and the four provincial assemblies.

Reacting to news of the resignation, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised him as a "friend to the United States and one of the world's most committed partners in the war against terrorism and extremism".

She said the US would work with Pakistan's new leaders, pressing on them the need to stem "the growth of extremism".

The UK government wished Mr Musharraf well but stressed that relations did not depend on one individual.

India said it had no comment to make on the resignation since it was an internal matter for Pakistan.

Neighbouring Afghanistan, whose own president, Hamid Karzai, had a very fraught relationship with Mr Musharraf, hoped his departure would boost democracy in both countries.

Mounting pressure

Mr Musharraf's resignation followed more than a year of turbulence.

The unrest began last March when he confronted the judiciary, suspending the chief justice. After widespread strikes and protests, his decision was overturned by the Supreme Court.

Mr Musharraf won the presidential election in October - but the Supreme Court refused to confirm the result.

In November, he declared a state of emergency, citing increasing attacks by militants but eventually stood down as head of the army, giving up his main power base.

The parliamentary election this February, handed a clear victory to the two main opposition parties.

The coalition struck a deal to impeach the president earlier this month and finalised their charges against him hours before he stepped down.quote>

[wishfulanthony 3]

Musharraf has resigned?! What a shock and victory, I'd say because he really tried his best to eradicate the Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgents in Pakistan, but, his corruption scandal and his probable connection to the assassination of former President Benazhir Bhutto really prompted his government to veer away from his policies and step down. I believe that the Pakistanis did the right thing in doing such action, and I am confident that Musharraf did the right thing too for the good of the Pakistani people. I just wish that a transfer of power to a new president will be smooth and free of violence (although acts of terrorism may not be ignored), and I pray that Pakistan will grow stronger after Pervez Musharraf's departure from office. May God bless Pakistan, and May Allah bless the Pakistani people.

[ford-prefect 5]

Wow, the Pakistani people are smarter than we are. Bush has done just as much damage to America as Musharaff has to Pakistan, and he's going to live the rest of his life on golf courses, having a great time, when he deserves to be tried for war crimes.

[Tia-may 0]

I have mixed feelings for him. Although he has tried to compromise freedom of speech he has somewhat worked harder than other nations to tackle terrorism. All the best to Musharaff for a good future.

[thesimbug 0]

wisfulanthony:

" ... because he really tried his best to eradicate the Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgents in Pakistan, ... ."

Tia-may:

" ... he has somewhat worked harder than other nations to tackle terrorism."

    

Do you think so, guys?

What a nice sincere man he must be in all your heads, isn't he?

Do you already consider Musharraf's illegal and illegitimate position got from coup d'etat?

Endangeredness from unpopularity at home demands strong political support, i.e. strong political obedience, from the superpower.

Do you already consider Richard Armitage's phone call to Pakistan's intelligence director not long after 9/11 attack threatening to bomb and send Pakistan back to the stone age if Pakistan does not support US led War on Terror?

And last but really not least, don't you ever read on newspapers Hamid Karzai's frequent outrage on Musharraf for his alleged protection to Taliban-Al Qaeda members resulting in never ending bloody attacks in Afghanistan?

Just to remind you, guys, if i'm not mistaken, it is Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan's intelligence, which forms Taliban in 1980s to play Pakistan's political interest in its very unstable neighbour.

[nazaguy 0]

This is long overdue really. He as only lasted this long through the support of the west, inflation is skyrocketing. He has also harmed an already weakened democratic system.