The country's ruling coalition has prepared impeachment charges accusing Musharraf of violations of the constitution and misconduct.
Most analysts expect the former army chief and firm U.S. ally to resign soon, perhaps before impeachment proceedings begin, or after defending himself against the accusations. Musharraf, 65, came to power in a 1999 coup and has anchored Pakistan's alliance with the United States, especially since Pakistan signed up for the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
He promoted an investor-friendly environment and oversaw good growth and surging stocks until this year.
Following are some of the political, economic and diplomatic implications of his expected resignation.
INTERNAL POLITICS
* Opposition to Musharraf has bonded rival parties in the coalition government. His departure could see them drift apart.
* The Pakistan People's Party of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto leads the coalition, with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) its main partner. The two main civilian parties are old rivals and despite recent cooperation, will compete in the next election.
SECURITY Continued...
Leader defends his record in televised address to the nation
Pervez Musharraf announces his resignation. Photograph: Dawn TV/AFP
Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf, today announced his resignation after robustly defending his record.
Expectations that the former army chief and firm US ally would go had been mounting since the coalition government, led by the party of the assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, said this month it planned to impeach him.
In a televised address to the nation, he defended his decision to impose emergency rule late last year, claiming his political opponents would have made matters worse for Pakistan.
He said Pakistan had always been his priority, and that he had imposed emergency rule in order to save the country from crisis.
Musharraf said his policies had improved the economy and women's rights, and laid the ground for democracy.
"People have said my policies over the past nine years have been wrong - they were wrong," said Musharraf. "My critics must not make things worse for Pakistan.
"Some elements acting for vested interests have made false allegations against me. Everything I have done will have long-term benefits for Pakistan."
Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup but has been largely sidelined since his rivals won parliamentary elections in February, had for months resisted calls on him to resign.
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Mahinda Rajapakse regime will also come to an end soon, if the opposition agitate strongly and the international community recognize the GOSL as a terrorist nation and impose economic, trade, and diplomatic sanctions which will cripple and strangle the administraion, and prevent further blatant human rights violations and fraud on the people of Sri Lanka.
The results ob the battle field with the rainy season approaching will become the catalyst for all actions including the pressure exerted by the Tamil diaspora in "real action"m eithout empty rhetoric.
Bare words butters no parsnips.
Tamils For Justice:
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