Members of Pakistan's ruling coalition say they have finalized a draftof impeachment charges against embattled President Pervez Musharraf.
Adrafting committee Saturday said the charges range from violatingthe constitution to misconduct. They have been given to coalitionofficials for scrutiny before being filed by Tuesday of next week.
Pakistan'sForeign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Saturday called on PresidentMusharraf to make up his mind on whether to resign or not. Qureshisaid if the president does not step down in the next two days, theimpeachment process will begin.
On Friday, Mr. Musharraf'sallies said talks were under way to reach an agreement that would allowhim to resign without facing impeachment or criminal charges. But Mr.Musharraf's spokesman Rashid Qureshi said reports that the presidentwill step down rather than face impeachment are baseless.
Pakistanimedia is reporting that Saudi Arabia's intelligence chief Muqrin binAbdul Aziz has traveled to Pakistan to help mediate a deal betweenPresident Musharraf and the ruling coalition.
This week,Pakistan's four provincial legislatures voted in favor of a resolutioncalling on the president to seek a confidence vote in the nationalparliament. Mr. Musharraf is not required by the constitution to facesuch a vote.
Removing the president requires a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of Pakistan's parliament.
Mr.Musharraf seized power in a bloodless 1999 military coup. He ruledlargely unchallenged for years, while enjoying U.S. support as a closeally in the fight against terrorism.