Pak coalition says it has the numbers to impeach Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's ruling coalition on Thursday claimed it had the required numbers in parliament for impeaching President Pervez Musharraf even as the opposition PML-Q vowed to defend the embattled former military ruler.

"As far as numbers in the parliament are concerned, we have done all our homework, and have been contacted by several groups of senators and (National Assembly members) from the opposition all through the night, ever since we made the announcement," Information Minister Sherry Rehman said.

"We already have the support of 18 members of the opposition. They naturally want to be remembered as voting on the right side of history," the Pakistan People's Party leader said.

Referring to plans announced yesterday by PPP chief Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif to remove Musharraf, she said, "It is a process that symbolises that no individual or institution is above accountability. It is a step towards democracy and parliamentary sovereignty.

"We are just implementing the mandate given to us by the public (in the general election) on February 18," she said, describing the move as a "historic moment for democracy in Pakistan".

The PML-Q said it would defend the President against the proposed impeachment motion.

PML-Q secretary general Mushahid Hussain Sayed said, "You have the democratic right to impeach him and we have the right to adopt all legal and political means to defend him."