Establishment to stay away this time

ISLAMABAD - In the background meetings with the 'real power brokers' in the country, the political dispensation have made it clear that they do not want to see a clash within the institutions and what they want is to get rid of the man sitting in the Presidency for obvious reasons.

The sources privy to these developments taking place in the backdrop of the impeachment decision by the ruling coalition, certain elements have become active to let the things go to the extreme and it is believed that the matter could not go up to tabling of the impeachment motion against President Musahrraf.

On the other hand, PML(N) President Mian Shahbaz Sharif, along with Ch. Nisar Ali Khan, held a detailed meeting with PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari at Zardari House and discussed in detail the spade work done by both the parties to make the impeachment move a success.

Asif Ali Zardari was assisted by Leader of the House in Senate, Raza Rabbani in the talks, which spanned from meeting the numbers game and other factors influencing the whole exercise.

Sources privy to the deliberations of the meeting disclosed to The Nation that political forces would not press for impeachment in case President Musharraf himself bows out and they would not go any further against him after his ouster.

The sources further disclosed that the armed forces had given assurance to the incumbent political dispensation that they would remain neutral in the whole exercise.

Similarly, the ISI Chief, Maj. Gen. Nadeem Taj, during his meeting with Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani before his China visit, held a meeting and assured that they would not meddle in the affairs of the political government and would stay neutral.

But the political analysts and sources in the government were of the view that though both Army and ISI would remain neutral, they would not at the same time, let President Musharraf, their previous boss, humiliated at the hands of the political dispensation.

Some of the sources closely watching the changes taking place on the national political horizon said that they would ask President Musharraf to step down ahead of impeachment proceedings in case they would found him vulnerable.

During the meeting Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Shahbaz Sharif also discussed the intricacies of impeachment motion and the strategy to go about it.

The sources in the coalition government disclosed that it was the unanimous view of the coalition partners to avoid direct clash with the 'institutions' during the whole exercise rather they would take these institutions into confidence and would suggest these institutions to force President Musharraf to bow down before tabling of the impeachment motion.

On the other hand, sources close to the Presidency informed The Nation that the President was adamant to see the impeachment charge-sheet and then he would decide about whether or not to contest it.

These sources further disclosed that his legal aides had advised him to wait and let the impeachment charge sheet come first and in case they found legal lacuna in the document, they could contest it in the Parliament or move apex court against it.

On the other hand, the political allies of the President Musharraf-Pakistan Muslim League(Quaid) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement- were tasked by the President to chalk out a strategy to defeat the ruling coalition in numbers game.

The sources further disclosed that both ruling coalition and opposition were claiming edge in the numbers game and tall claims were being made from both sides to have breached the defence lines of each other.