Musharraf's resignation formally accepted

ISLAMABAD: Pervez Musharraf's resignation from the post of President has been formally accepted and Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomroo today took over as the acting President.

National Assembly Speaker Fehmida Mirza, who received Musharraf's resignation, was quoted by state-run PTV as saying that it had been accepted. She said a notification regarding the resignation had also been issued.

Mirza pointed out that it was the first time since the adoption of the constitution of 1973 that a President had tendered his resignation to the Speaker of the National Assembly.

According to Pakistan's constitution, the Chairman of the Senate or upper house of parliament takes charge as acting President on the post becoming vacant. An election to choose a new President must be held within 30 days of the post becoming vacant, Law Minister Farooq Naek said.

During a televised address to the nation, Musharraf announced his resignation in the face of the ruling coalition's plans to launch impeachment proceedings against him in parliament.

The ruling Pakistan People's Party and its main ally PML-N had announced on August 7 that they planned to impeach Musharraf if he did not resign.