Countdown begins

A couple of days after the coalition leadership decided to impeach President Musharraf, his camp gives the impression of being in shambles. A staunch supporter like Sh Rashid has advised him to say goodbye to power instead of facing the impeachment motion, as he is not likely to win the numbers game. There is widespread demoralisation in the PML(Q) ranks, with a number of party deputies accusing the President of himself being the architect of the disaster that faces him, by signing the NRO in the wake of opposition from the party. All the anti-Chaudhry groups in the PML(Q) have become active again. Numerous party legislators consider the occasion a Godsent opportunity to make up with the PML(N). If Information Minister Sherry Rehman is to be believed, 18 PML(Q) MPs have promised to support the impeachment motion. The MQM, which has so far been loyal to the President, seems to be having second thoughts, as in the event of the impeachment move succeeding despite the party’s support to the President, its attempts to be inducted into mainstream politics would suffer a serious setback. While a desperate Ch Pervez Elahi believes that the President could still invoke Article 58(2b), this could happen only with the Army’s blessing, which many rule out on account of COAS Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s assurance that he is determined to keep the institution out of politics.