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Musharraf faces impeachment bid Musharraf faces impeachment bid
(20 minutes later)
Pakistan's ruling coalition parties say they will begin impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf.Pakistan's ruling coalition parties say they will begin impeachment proceedings against President Pervez Musharraf.
Party leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif made the announcement after three days of talks. They would need a two-thirds majority to impeach.Party leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif made the announcement after three days of talks. They would need a two-thirds majority to impeach.
Mr Musharraf took power in a bloodless coup in 1999.Mr Musharraf took power in a bloodless coup in 1999.
He gave up control of the army last year and his allies were defeated in February's elections but he retains the power to dissolve parliament.He gave up control of the army last year and his allies were defeated in February's elections but he retains the power to dissolve parliament.
Mr Musharraf has previously said he would resign rather than face impeachment proceedings but he has made no comment yet on the latest move.Mr Musharraf has previously said he would resign rather than face impeachment proceedings but he has made no comment yet on the latest move.
The BBC's Mark Dummett in Islamabad says an impeachment would take Pakistani politics into new territory, since no Pakistani leader has faced it before.
Sacked judgesSacked judges
Mr Zardari, of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), and the PML-N's Narwaz Sharif announced the impeachment move at a press conference in Islamabad.Mr Zardari, of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), and the PML-N's Narwaz Sharif announced the impeachment move at a press conference in Islamabad.
Mr Zardari said: "We have good news for democracy. The coalition believes it is imperative to move for impeachment against General Musharraf."Mr Zardari said: "We have good news for democracy. The coalition believes it is imperative to move for impeachment against General Musharraf."
STEPS TO IMPEACHMENT Impeachment proposers need 50% majority in Senate or National AssemblyPresident given notice of impeachment, and has three days to respondJoint session of Senate and Assembly must be held between 7 and 14 days later to investigate chargesIf resolution presented, joint session must approve with two-thirds majority OTHER POSSIBLE SCENARIO President dissolves parliament, placing country under emergency rule to prevent impeachmentSTEPS TO IMPEACHMENT Impeachment proposers need 50% majority in Senate or National AssemblyPresident given notice of impeachment, and has three days to respondJoint session of Senate and Assembly must be held between 7 and 14 days later to investigate chargesIf resolution presented, joint session must approve with two-thirds majority OTHER POSSIBLE SCENARIO President dissolves parliament, placing country under emergency rule to prevent impeachment
Mr Zardari, the widower of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, derided Mr Musharraf's economic policies, adding: "He has worked to undermine the transition to democracy."Mr Zardari, the widower of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, derided Mr Musharraf's economic policies, adding: "He has worked to undermine the transition to democracy."
He also warned Mr Musharraf not to dissolve parliament, saying: "If he does it, it will be his last verdict against the people."He also warned Mr Musharraf not to dissolve parliament, saying: "If he does it, it will be his last verdict against the people."
Mr Sharif said: "Pakistan cannot afford to see democracy derailed, this is not the same Pakistan as was the case in the 1980s and 1990s. People will not accept it now."Mr Sharif said: "Pakistan cannot afford to see democracy derailed, this is not the same Pakistan as was the case in the 1980s and 1990s. People will not accept it now."
The leaders say they will also move to have Mr Musharraf face votes of confidence in the national and four provincial assemblies.The leaders say they will also move to have Mr Musharraf face votes of confidence in the national and four provincial assemblies.
They also promised to restore judges sacked under Mr Musharraf's emergency rule once impeachment was successful. Our correspondent says these will not be enough to dislodge President Musharraf but might weaken him ahead of any impeachment showdown.
Impeachment would need a two-thirds majority in the upper and lower houses of the national assembly but, our correspondent says, getting those numbers might be difficult.
The two leaders also promised to restore judges sacked under Mr Musharraf's emergency rule once impeachment was successful.
How to proceed on that issue had caused deep divisions between the two coalition parties since the elections.How to proceed on that issue had caused deep divisions between the two coalition parties since the elections.
New territory Military role
Mr Musharraf had been scheduled to attend the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing but has cancelled his trip and will be replaced by Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani.Mr Musharraf had been scheduled to attend the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing but has cancelled his trip and will be replaced by Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani.
Mr Musharraf was elected president for a five-year term last October in a controversial parliamentary vote.Mr Musharraf was elected president for a five-year term last October in a controversial parliamentary vote.
One presidential source told Agence France-Presse news agency Mr Musharraf was discussing a course of action and had the options of dissolving parliament or imposing emergency rule again.One presidential source told Agence France-Presse news agency Mr Musharraf was discussing a course of action and had the options of dissolving parliament or imposing emergency rule again.
The BBC's Mark Dummett in Islamabad says an impeachment would take Pakistani politics into new territory, since no Pakistani leader has faced it before.
The president is still thought to have heavy influence over the military and its reaction will remain crucial.The president is still thought to have heavy influence over the military and its reaction will remain crucial.
Pakistan has been ruled by military leaders for more than half of its existence since Partition in 1947.Pakistan has been ruled by military leaders for more than half of its existence since Partition in 1947.