Musharraf resigns as Pak President
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (Agencies): Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, who came to power in a coup nine years ago and was a key US ally in its campaign against terrorism, quit office Monday to avoid impeachment charges.
"Whether I win or lose, the nation will lose," Musharraf (65) said in an hour-long televised address in which he passionately defended his record.
"The honour and dignity of the country will be affected and in my view, the honour of the office of president will also be affected."
Prolonged jockeying and uncertainty over Musharraf's position had hurt financial markets in the nuclear-armed country of 165 million people, and raised concerns in Washington and elsewhere that it was distracting from efforts to tackle militancy.
Coalition officials had said earlier Musharraf had sought immunity from prosecution but he said in his speech he was asking for nothing.
"I don't want anything from anybody. I have no interest. I leave my future in the hands of the nation and people," he said.
Pakistani stocks jumped 4 percent on the news and the rupee, which had lost a quarter of its value this year, began strengthening.
Political analysts said Monday the new governing civilian coalition that engineered the ouster of Musharraf faces some tough challenges following Musharraf's resignation, chief among them the deteriorating economy and the continued threat from a resurgent Taliban.
"I think the political leaders have no excuse now," said Rasul Baksh Rais, a political analyst who teaches politics at Lahore University of Management Sciences. "They have to address the immediate issues like inflation and the long-term structural problems of Pakistani polity. They can't use Musharraf as an excuse any more."
Rais said the departure of Musharraf was a "great moment and a great change."
"It is a change about the democratic spirit and transition, and the establishment of constitutionality," he said. But he stressed that it would also be a test of the political leadership.
Musharraf has been isolated since his allies lost parliamentary elections in February. But in his speech he defiantly lambasted the coalition for what he described as failed economic policies, and said he had brought prosperity since taking power in 1999.
His resignation climaxed nearly two weeks of political machinations in Islamabad after the fractious coalition finally agreed that Musharraf had to go. The powerful army, which has ruled for more than half the country's 61-year history, has publicly kept out of the controversy over its old boss.
It was not clear who the next president would be. According to the constitution, the chairman of the Senate will become acting president until a new president is elected within 30 days for a five-year term.
Traditionally in Pakistan, the president has been a figurehead with the prime minister holding most powers, although under Musharraf, the president was much more powerful.
Celebrations broke out across the country after Musharraf's announcement, with people dancing and handing out sweets.
"Thank God he's resigned. The country will do much better now. It's a victory for the people," said Mohammad Ilyas, 30, in Karachi.
Coalition parties also welcomed the news.
"It's a victory for all democratic forces and it's victory for Benazir Bhutto and all those who sacrificed their lives for democracy," said Bhutto party spokeswoman Farzana Raja.
Bhutto was assassinated on December 27 while campaigning. The government said an al Qaeda-linked militant was responsible.
The coalition had prepared impeachment charges against Musharraf focusing on alleged violations of the constitution and misconduct.
A career army officer, Musharraf became a close U.S. ally in the war against terror after coming to power in a coup that ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif from office. He narrowly survived several al Qaeda-inspired assassination attempts.
Critics say Musharraf suffered from a "saviour complex" and believed he was indispensable for Pakistan. But in late 2007, people welcomed back from exile Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, two leaders they were disillusioned with a decade earlier.
Musharraf had promised to return Pakistan to democracy, but critics say he stifled political freedom.
A 2002 general election was widely seen as rigged.
As challenges mounted, Musharraf reverted to autocratic ways. His downfall will be traced back to March 9, 2007, when he tried to force Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry to resign.
"Whether I win or lose, the nation will lose," Musharraf (65) said in an hour-long televised address in which he passionately defended his record.
"The honour and dignity of the country will be affected and in my view, the honour of the office of president will also be affected."
Prolonged jockeying and uncertainty over Musharraf's position had hurt financial markets in the nuclear-armed country of 165 million people, and raised concerns in Washington and elsewhere that it was distracting from efforts to tackle militancy.
Coalition officials had said earlier Musharraf had sought immunity from prosecution but he said in his speech he was asking for nothing.
"I don't want anything from anybody. I have no interest. I leave my future in the hands of the nation and people," he said.
Pakistani stocks jumped 4 percent on the news and the rupee, which had lost a quarter of its value this year, began strengthening.
Political analysts said Monday the new governing civilian coalition that engineered the ouster of Musharraf faces some tough challenges following Musharraf's resignation, chief among them the deteriorating economy and the continued threat from a resurgent Taliban.
"I think the political leaders have no excuse now," said Rasul Baksh Rais, a political analyst who teaches politics at Lahore University of Management Sciences. "They have to address the immediate issues like inflation and the long-term structural problems of Pakistani polity. They can't use Musharraf as an excuse any more."
Rais said the departure of Musharraf was a "great moment and a great change."
"It is a change about the democratic spirit and transition, and the establishment of constitutionality," he said. But he stressed that it would also be a test of the political leadership.
Musharraf has been isolated since his allies lost parliamentary elections in February. But in his speech he defiantly lambasted the coalition for what he described as failed economic policies, and said he had brought prosperity since taking power in 1999.
His resignation climaxed nearly two weeks of political machinations in Islamabad after the fractious coalition finally agreed that Musharraf had to go. The powerful army, which has ruled for more than half the country's 61-year history, has publicly kept out of the controversy over its old boss.
It was not clear who the next president would be. According to the constitution, the chairman of the Senate will become acting president until a new president is elected within 30 days for a five-year term.
Traditionally in Pakistan, the president has been a figurehead with the prime minister holding most powers, although under Musharraf, the president was much more powerful.
Celebrations broke out across the country after Musharraf's announcement, with people dancing and handing out sweets.
"Thank God he's resigned. The country will do much better now. It's a victory for the people," said Mohammad Ilyas, 30, in Karachi.
Coalition parties also welcomed the news.
"It's a victory for all democratic forces and it's victory for Benazir Bhutto and all those who sacrificed their lives for democracy," said Bhutto party spokeswoman Farzana Raja.
Bhutto was assassinated on December 27 while campaigning. The government said an al Qaeda-linked militant was responsible.
The coalition had prepared impeachment charges against Musharraf focusing on alleged violations of the constitution and misconduct.
A career army officer, Musharraf became a close U.S. ally in the war against terror after coming to power in a coup that ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif from office. He narrowly survived several al Qaeda-inspired assassination attempts.
Critics say Musharraf suffered from a "saviour complex" and believed he was indispensable for Pakistan. But in late 2007, people welcomed back from exile Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, two leaders they were disillusioned with a decade earlier.
Musharraf had promised to return Pakistan to democracy, but critics say he stifled political freedom.
A 2002 general election was widely seen as rigged.
As challenges mounted, Musharraf reverted to autocratic ways. His downfall will be traced back to March 9, 2007, when he tried to force Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry to resign.