Impeach-Musharraf campaign launched

PML(N) Chief Nawaz Sharif's party says it has begun a signature campaign calling for the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf.

With PML(N) Chief Nawaz Sharif raising the pitch for President Pervez Mushrarraf's trial, his party MPs on Sunday said they have launched a signature campaign calling for the former general's impeachment.

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Hanif Abbasi, a PML-N lawmaker, told reporters outside parliament that 48 lawmakers of his party had so far signed the motion.

A final decision in the matter would be taken at the next joint meeting of the parliamentary parties of the PML-N and its ally Pakistan People's Party, he said.

"The leadership of the PML-N and PPP have said that Musharraf should be impeached. Till today, 48 signatures have been obtained (for the impeachment motion)," Abbasi said.

He pointed out that PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari had himself said that the people wanted Musharraf's ouster from the Presidency.

"The people's view is that the individual against whom they had given a verdict in the February 18 general election is still sitting in the Presidency and Army House. It is now the parliament's job to remove him," Abbasi said.

The PPP has so far held back from acting on the PML-N's demand for the impeachment of Musharraf, saying the ruling coalition does not have the two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament that is required for such a move.

While the PPP-led coalition has a two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament, the opposition PML-Q has a slender majority in the Senate or upper house.