An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Musharraf Steps Down
Pakistani President Musharraf Resigns Amid Impeachment Threats
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation Monday, ending an eight-year tenure that opponents said was hampering the country’s labored return to democracy.
An emotional Musharraf said he wanted to spare the nation from a perilous impeachment battle and that he was satisfied that all he had done “was for the people and for the country.”
“I hope the nation and the people will forgive my mistakes,” Musharraf said in a televised address, much of which was devoted to defending his record and refuting criticisms.
Musharraf said he will turn in his resignation to the National Assembly speaker on Monday but it was not immediately clear whether it would become effective the same day. The chairman of Pakistan’s Senate, Mohammedmian Soomro, will take over as acting president when Musharraf steps down, Law Minister Farooq Naek said.
It also was not clear whether Musharraf, a stalwart U.S. ally, would stay in Pakistan.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said leaders of the ruling coalition would discuss later Monday whether to prosecute Musharraf in court on charges that that were being planned for the impeachment process.
Musharraf’s political foes celebrated.
“It is a victory of democratic forces,” Information Minister Sherry Rehman said. “Today the shadow of dictatorship, that has prevailed for long over this country, that chapter has been closed.”
Well, this should get interesting. I’m fairly sure we knew this was coming. Personally, I have never seen Pakistan as an ally. All you have to do is look at the violence that continues, with some Pakistani help. I see a possible escalation now. Maybe we SHOULD be concentrating more troops where the real war is right now? Iraq is starting to take care of itself. Let’s look for the bigger evil, bin Laden, and his pigs.
