The provincial assembly in eastern Pakistan's Punjab province on Monday passed a resolution to ask President Pervez Musharraf to take a vote of confidence.
The provincial assembly voted 321 in favor and 25 against on a resolution demanding Musharraf seek confidence vote, a move ahead of formal impeachment, private Geo TV channel reported.
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Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf attends a referendum rally in Abbottabad, 125 km (80 miles) north of Islamabad in this April 15, 2002 file photo. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
Similar resolutions will also be adopted in three other provinces to press on Musharraf before facing a formal impeachment motion in the parliament.
Pakistani's lower house also opened on Monday and might discuss Musharraf's impeachment.
Pakistan's ruling coalition parties on Thursday announced that they would launch impeachment against the president.
The coalition led by Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has reportedly finished a draft charge-sheet against Musharraf containing misconduct, financial irregularities, violations of the Constitution and criminal acts.
But the PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir Bhutto's widower, hoped that the president would choose to resign before the impeachment motion is submitted to parliament.
On Sunday, presidential spokesman Rashid Qureshi denied Musharraf's resignation, saying the allegations against Musharraf are baseless.
The coalition, also including junior party Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has been at odds with the president since it won the Feb. 18 general elections and formed a new government.
Analysts say that it will take some time to move the impeachment motion in parliament as the four provincial assemblies are expected to first pass a resolution demanding Musharraf take a vote of confidence. And if Musharraf fails to take the vote, impeachment will be initiated.
The coalition needs two-thirds majority votes in a joint session of upper and lower houses.
(Xinhua News Agency August 12, 2008)
