By IRNA,
Islamabad : Pakistani activist and former Supreme Court Bar Association president Justice (r) Tariq Mehmood says that ruling coalition partners have finally decided to get rid of President Musharraf.
Talking to IRNA he said that impeachment of the President is necessary for the sake of democracy, otherwise there could be a mess in the country.
It is the question of survival for ruling coalition as they were failed to honor their commitments so far, he said.
Traiq said that this time ruling coalition is serious about the impeachment, if they were not serious Zardari would have not given a statement against Musharraf.
Pakistan ‘s ruling coalition parties have agreed to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, setting up a major showdown between the former military chief and the newly elected civilian government.
Internationally, Musharraf has been viewed alternately as a political pariah and a bold statesman in a region.
New challenges to Musharraf’s rule mounted in November after he declared a state of emergency and placed about 60 other judges under house arrest.
Public support for Musharraf dropped after the December 27 assassination of former premier and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
Justice (r) Tariq Mehmood added that President has been conspiring against the new government.
He was of the view that the position of the coalition is quite solid as under the Constitution judiciary has no jurisdiction to interfere in the process of impeachment.
He said that when Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was removed there was no public reaction and same was the case when Nawaz Sharif was removed on October 12, 1999.
Justice (r) Tariq Mehmood said that this time the whole scenario is changed; all the democratic forces are united.
As far as MQM is concerned it is an ethnic party and their support to Musharraf does not really matter, he added.
He said that this time the Supreme Court has to think also, Musharraf is no more Chief of Army Staff but has the power to dissolve the assemblies so there is no reason for the Supreme Court to interfere in the issue.
It is last chance for the army to regain its reputation and if army does not interfere in the impeachment process this would be a minimum thing the army can do, Justice (r) Tariq Mehmood said.
He said that the meeting of US Ambassador with Musharraf is raising many questions among the public, I think America wants to save his friend.
He said that President Musharraf would only dissolve the assemblies if he has the backing of US and army.
If he dissolves the assemblies the situation in the country would become more volatile, he said.