Pakistan’s Musharraf resigns as president
Washington, 18 August (IranVNC)—Amid threats of impeachment, Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf today announced that he was resigning.
By: IranVNC
Published: Monday, August 18, 2008
17:30GMT—1:30PM/EST
PAKISTAN – MUSHARRAF – RESIGNATION
Washington, 18 August (IranVNC)—Amid threats of impeachment, Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf today announced that he was resigning.
In an hour-long televised address to the country, Musharraf said: “After viewing the situation and consulting legal advisers and political allies, with their advice I have decided to resign.”
“I don’t want anything from anybody. I have no interest. I leave my future in the hands of the nation and people,” added Musharraf.
He said he would submit his resignation to the lower house of parliament later today.
Pakistan’s two ruling coalition parties had called on Musharraf to step down. They had accused Musharraf of violating the constitution and gross misconduct.
But in his address, Musharraf defended his time in office, saying “not a single charge can be proved against me.”
He went on to say that he had helped improve democracy and human rights and established law and order in Pakistan during his time as president.
“On the map of the world, Pakistan is now an important country, by the grace of Allah,” AFP quoted Musharraf as saying.
The resignation of Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup, reportedly sparked celebrations in several cities throughout Pakistan, AFP reported.
International reaction urged stability and unity in Pakistan – a key Western ally in the “war on terror”.
US President George W. Bush “looks forward to working with the Government of Pakistan on the economic, political and security challenges they face,” US National Security Council spokesperson Gordon Johndroe said today in a statement.
He added that Bush also praised Musharraf for his efforts in the “democratic transition of Pakistan” and in “fighting al-Qaida and extremist groups”.
For its part, Iran today urged calm in Pakistan in the face of political changes.
“We have no doubt that the various currents in Pakistan’s government, given the region’s sensitive conditions, will have an eye on stability and calm as soon as possible, with the aim of preserving the country’s national interests,” the official IRNA news agency quoted Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hassan Qashqavi, as saying.
Sources: Reuters, Agence France-Presse, IRNA in Persian
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