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Ruling parties in Musharraf talks | Ruling parties in Musharraf talks |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Pakistan's ruling alliance is expected to decide whether to begin moves to try to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, following three days of talks. | Pakistan's ruling alliance is expected to decide whether to begin moves to try to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, following three days of talks. |
Mr Musharraf has delayed his departure to China to attend the opening of the Olympics, after earlier suggestions he might cancel the trip entirely. | |
The president's allies were defeated in elections in February, but he has so far resisted pressure to quit. | The president's allies were defeated in elections in February, but he has so far resisted pressure to quit. |
The governing coalition is divided over whether to impeach Mr Musharraf. | |
Latest reports from Islamabad quote "senior coalition sources" saying a deal has been reached in principle on impeaching the president, but these have not been confirmed. | |
Correspondents say it is also far from clear whether the ruling alliance could muster the required two-thirds majority needed in both houses of parliament. | |
'Special relations' | |
The president was due to leave for the Chinese capital, Beijing, on Wednesday but at the last minute the trip was cancelled. No reason was given. | The president was due to leave for the Chinese capital, Beijing, on Wednesday but at the last minute the trip was cancelled. No reason was given. |
A statement from the foreign ministry later said that he would leave for China on Thursday. | A statement from the foreign ministry later said that he would leave for China on Thursday. |
Work is under way to finalise the draft of a joint statement PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar Q&A: Pakistan's judges | |
"In view of our special relations with China, the president has decided to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics," said the foreign ministry statement on Wednesday. | "In view of our special relations with China, the president has decided to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics," said the foreign ministry statement on Wednesday. |
China is one of Pakistan's closest allies, and it would have been highly unusual for a Pakistani leader to call off a visit at such short notice. | China is one of Pakistan's closest allies, and it would have been highly unusual for a Pakistani leader to call off a visit at such short notice. |
The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan, in Islamabad, says the question of whether or not to impeach Mr Musharraf has threatened to divide the governing coalition. | The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan, in Islamabad, says the question of whether or not to impeach Mr Musharraf has threatened to divide the governing coalition. |
Early in what was a dramatic day on Wednesday, the threat of a new opposition onslaught appeared sufficient to force him to cancel his Beijing trip. Yet by evening a spokesman said he would travel as planned. | Early in what was a dramatic day on Wednesday, the threat of a new opposition onslaught appeared sufficient to force him to cancel his Beijing trip. Yet by evening a spokesman said he would travel as planned. |
That Mr Musharraf felt confident enough to fly to China would suggest to many Pakistanis that for now at least he feels more secure in his position, our correspondent says. | |
The president has previously said he would prefer to resign than face impeachment. | |
Last year, he gave up control of the army, the country's most powerful institution, but he retains the power to dissolve parliament. | |
How the military reacts to any efforts to oust him would be crucial in determining his fate. | |
Opponents' moves | Opponents' moves |
The governing Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and its alliance partners appeared deadlocked by Wednesday evening over the impeachment moves. | |
Mr Zardari and Mr Sharif met on Wednesday | |
At one point, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stormed out following the announcement that Mr Musharraf had issued orders to reinstate some of Pakistan's top judges. | At one point, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif stormed out following the announcement that Mr Musharraf had issued orders to reinstate some of Pakistan's top judges. |
Mr Sharif argues that the president is attempting to divide the governing coalition. | Mr Sharif argues that the president is attempting to divide the governing coalition. |
But progress appears to have been made since then. | |
PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar told the news agency AFP work was under way "to finalise the draft of a joint statement" by Thursday evening. | |
A spokesman for Mr Sharif's party also said an announcement was due. | |
Mr Musharraf's political allies were defeated in February elections, from which the PPP emerged as the largest party. | Mr Musharraf's political allies were defeated in February elections, from which the PPP emerged as the largest party. |
In second place was the PML-N of Mr Sharif, whom President Musharraf ousted in a 1999 coup. | In second place was the PML-N of Mr Sharif, whom President Musharraf ousted in a 1999 coup. |
The two parties formed an alliance in March, but have since been split over the issues of presidential impeachment and the reinstatement of judges sacked by President Musharraf during a state of emergency in November. | |
The PML-N pulled out of the federal cabinet in May when PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari refused to move immediately on these issues. | |
The rift has caused a sense of paralysis in the government, which is under pressure to tackle militancy and a worsening economy. |
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