Pakistan gears up for Musharraf's impeachment motion:
So what is the way out for Musharraf? He has declined to step down at any stage but the word from Islamabad is that the General may resign rather than testifying in the witness box. He may call it quits on or after Pakistan's independence day on August 14.
Musharraf is losing time and options. The biggest jolt for him came from the Pakistan Army, which has chosen to distance itself from anything to do with their former chief.
What has this got to do with Bush's "impeachment"? Read on...
Accoridng to BBC NEWS Musharraf has three options:
* he could contest the impeachment in parliament, which is what his supporters there are urging him to do,
* he could resign,
* or he could take a huge risk, dismiss the government and dissolve parliament.
Without the help of the powerful Pakistan's army, the third option is unlikely. And since Bush and Mush's friendship seems to have soured, he is calling out for help from his most trustworthy friends:
Times of India: Embattled Musharraf seeks Saudi Arabia's help
Islamabad: Disappointed by his American friends, President Pervez Musharraf, who faces impeachment by the ruling coalition, has sent an "SOS message" to the Saudi authorities, a source said on Monday.
"The message was sent through a senior Saudi diplomat based in Islamabad," the source said, adding the president has received a response that is "not very positive".
...Musharraf, when he seized power in October 1999 after overthrowing prime minister Nawaz Sharif, had sent him into exile in Saudi Arabia.
Later, when Sharif attempted to return to Pakistan last year, Musharraf persuaded the Saudi authorities to "take him back" and he was bundled off after spending over two hours at Islamabad airport. This invited criticism of Saudi authorities, which otherwise command respect among the majority of Pakistanis.
However, in November last year, Sharif with the help of Saudi authorities returned to Pakistan to lead his party in the February general elections. Since then, he has been campaigning against Musharraf and was instrumental in convincing his allies in the ruling coalition to impeach the president.
..."What I know is that Musharraf may be offered permanent residence in Saudi Arabia if he resigns. The Saudis may manage amnesty for him, sparing him from further humiliation and high treason charges," said the source.
Wonder, given a similar scenario, which country in the world would give Bush a permanent residency... he is popular nowhere. A non-democracy like Saudi Arabia won't mind, I guess, but he may have to change his religion...