Bangladesh News

Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf resigned yesterday, bringing down the curtain on a turbulent nine years in power to avoid the first impeachment in the country’s history.

The former general, Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup announced the move in a lengthy televised address, rejecting the charges against him but saying he wanted to spare Pakistan a damaging battle with the ruling coalition.

The departure of Musharraf set off wild celebrations at home, yet it was far from certain what would come next for a nation whose role in the “war on terror” has been increasingly questioned by Washington.

“After viewing the situation and consulting legal advisers and political allies, with their advice I have decided to resign,” Musharraf, wearing a sober suit and tie, said near the end of his one-hour address.

“I leave my future in the hands of the people.”

Across the nation, his opponents rejoiced after the former general announced he was resigning.

Celebrations erupted at special areas set up in major cities and dozens of other towns for people to hear Musharraf’s final address to the nation. Widescreen televisions were set up in some spots.

“The nation is so happy,” university student Saba Gul said, as people embraced and handed out sweets.

The sound of banging drums and cheers of joy echoed throughout this ancient walled city. Elsewhere, people fired Kalashnikovs in the air to celebrate.

Coalition leaders Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of slain ex-premier Benazir Bhutto, and Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted by Musharraf in 1999, were shown shaking hands and smiling after his speech but gave no immediate reaction.

His decision to quit came after the coalition said it was ready to press ahead with impeachment as early as Tuesday. It was not known if Musharraf had concluded a deal that would save him from prosecution in the days ahead.

“If we continue with the politics of confrontation, we will not save the country,” the 65-year-old Musharraf said. “People will never pardon this government if they fail to do so.”

But several close aides said Musharraf was not set to go into exile as several of Pakistan’s former leaders have done. “He is not going anywhere,” one aide said.

The president said he would give his formal resignation to the speaker of parliament later Monday. Senate chairman Mohammedmian Soomro will act as caretaker president until an election, which is expected in the next few weeks.

Musharraf later received a final guard of honour from troops at the presidency as a brass band played the national anthem.

World leaders urged stability and unity in Pakistan — regarded by the West as a key partner in fighting terrorism — as they reacted to news of Musharraf’s resignation as president.

“We will continue to work with the Pakistani government and political leaders and urge them to redouble their focus on Pakistan’s future and its most urgent needs, including stemming the growth of extremism,” US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.

In a statement, Rice called Musharraf “a friend to the United States and one of the world’s most committed partners in the war against terrorism and extremism.”

Britain said Musharraf’s announcement ended a “critical period” in Pakistan’s history, and called for political leaders in Islamabad to unite to keep their nation on course with economic and security cooperation.

Pakistan’s regional rival India declined to comment on Musharraf’s decision, with the foreign ministry in Delhi describing it as an “internal matter” for its neighbour.

His troubles began last year when he sacked senior judges who opposed him, clearing the way for his re-election while still holding a dual role as head of the country’s powerful armed forces.

The move set off mass protests in the streets that built into a national crisis, which saw Musharraf declare a state of emergency in November.

But he was compelled to quit as army chief within weeks, and when his administration was seen to have bungled the handling of the December assassination of Benazir Bhutto, his fate seemed to be sealed.

Voters underscored his unpopularity at the ballot box in February, handing the parties of Benazir and Sharif a massive victory.

“After the martyrdom of my mother I said that democracy was the best revenge — and today it was proved true,” said Benazir’s 19-year-old son, Bilawal.

The possible impeachment charges against Musharraf were expected to be related to his sacking of the judges, but in his speech he strongly defended every aspect of his time in power — even the coup nine years ago.

He said he had improved a tottering economy, helped establish law and order, fostered democracy and burnished the country’s international stature.

“On the map of the world Pakistan is now an important country, by the grace of Allah,” Musharraf said.

The president was also backed into a corner by the resurgency of Islamic militants in the tribal areas along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan, who launched a massive wave of attacks last year that left more than 1,000 dead.

Musharraf himself survived three assassination attempts while holding what some have called the most dangerous job in the world, and went from being a backer of the Taliban to a close US ally after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

The United States gave no immediate reaction, but British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Musharraf’s resignation ended a “critical period in Pakistan’s history.”

Berlin called on the next president to help bring stability in neighbouring Afghanistan, while Kabul said it hoped the resignation would lead to a “strengthening of the civilian government and democracy in Pakistan.”

White House foes John McCain and Barack Obama on Monday welcomed the resignation of Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharraf, both expressing hopes the move would end that country’s political crisis.

In separate statements, the candidates, who have been squabbling over foreign policy, noted the vital role Pakistan plays in the US battle against global terrorism, but stopped short of praising Musharraf.

Democratic candidate Obama said the United States must press the next Pakistani government to carry out a crackdown against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

“There can be no safe haven for terrorists who threaten the American people,” said, Obama, who once said he would be ready as president to strike against terror suspects in Pakistan if Islamabad did not act on US intelligence.

“A year ago, I advocated that the US move from a ‘Musharraf policy’ to a ‘Pakistan policy,” he said.

Republican McCain said the resignation of Musharraf was a step toward moving Pakistan onto a more stable political footing.”

“Pakistan is a critical theater in countering the threat of Al-Qaeda and violent Islamic extremism, and I look forward to the government increasing its future cooperation,” McCain said in a statement.

“The situation in Pakistan’s frontier regions requires immediate and continued attention, and I hope that the elections for President Musharraf’s successor will serve to reconcile the Pakistani people behind a leader who can solidify their government internally.”