By Naveen Kapoor New Delhi, Aug.18 (ANI): Responding to resignation of Pakistani President Parvez Musharraf, former External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said on Monday: "Musharraf has met the fate of all dictators. I can say he was not particularly friendly to India, many of the problems in our bilateral relationship with Pakistan are entirely because of him.
So his quitting should be regarded as good news for India and South Asia". Sinha's view doesn't quite go in concurrence with his party which has shared a very cordial relationship with the former military chief.
In fact BJP patriarch Atal Behari Vajpayee has had a very good rapport with the former chief of army and it is these two leaders who have signed a historic peace agreement in 2004 on the sidelines of SAARC summit had set the tone and prepared the ground for peace process which has reached its fifth round this year.
Termed as architect of Kargil War of 1999, Musharraf due to his decisive steps vis-à-vis Indo Pak peace process in successive have won the confidence and respect from India and the United States, Infact Indian Prime Minister has quite candidly said Musharraf is the man whom we can do business, Indian national security adviser has also stated that he has grudging respect for the former army chief. But Sinha suggests that we should not support dictators.
However Sinha also raised questions on the authority of new democratic PPP led government and said that Pakistan has not changed under 'democratic government'. Citing recent incidents of ceasefire violation on the LoC and attack on Indian embassy in Kabul and ongoing volatility in Jammu and Kashmir, former Indian Foreign minister, Yashwant sinha said: "India should watch the situation very closely after the departure of Musharraf we should remain very alert" he also urged Pakistani leadership to deliver on the peace process.(ANI)
PPP workers welcome Musharraf's resignation at Zardari House
Islamabad, Aug.18 (ANI): A distribution of sweets and slogans in favour of democracy welcomed Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's announcement that he was resigning from office on Monday, ahead of the impeachment process in parliament.
Hundreds of PPP workers gathered outside Zardari House here and jubilantly welcomed the announcement.
Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari described it as the result of his wife Benazir Bhutto's sacrifice for democracy.
Meanwhile, it was business as usual for Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, who said on Monday that the government would objectively review the existing system of local governance and make every effort to establish a legitimate and sustainable system.
He was addressing a two-day national workshop on 'Successful models in capacity development for local self-governance towards urban renewal and rural construction' at PM Secretariat here. (ANI)
Pak Chief Justice calls on Musharraf
Islamabad, Aug.18 (ANI): Pakistan's Chief Justice, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, met outgoing President Pervez Musharraf at Aiwan-e-Sadar on Monday.
Sources said that Justice Dogar spent some time with Musharraf, and it was described as a farewell call. (ANI)
Musharraf could head abroad after a few weeks
London, Aug.18 (ANI): Outgoing Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf may think of setting up house abroad after a few weeks, the Financial Times reports.
According to the paper, it is not clear as yet whether Mr Musharraf will remain in Pakistan or go into exile, as has been widely speculated.
It quoted a senior government official with some knowledge of Musharraf's recent background discussions with ruling politicians, as saying that the president may spend the next few weeks at his farm house in Islamabad.
It was likely that Musharraf would eventually go into exile because "it was unlikely to provide now that the former president would be provided with the same security that he got when he was the president".
Turkey, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, the UK and the US have been mentioned as possible destinations for Musharraf, said the paper. (ANI)
Miliband says Musharraf departure ends a 'critical period' for Pakistan
London, Aug.18 (ANI): Reacting to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's decision to resign from office, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said on Monday that a critical period in Pakistan's history had come to an end.
Appealing to Pakistan's political leaders to "come together" to ensure the new government stays on course with economic and security policy, and calling for an early" election of a successor to Musharraf, Miliband was quoted by The News as saying: "The announcement... by President Musharraf that he is standing down as president brings to a close a critical period in Pakistan's history and its relations with the UK and other countries."
"Pakistan is a vital friend of the UK and it is essential... that it has a strong and democratic government with a clear mandate and programme for thoroughgoing reform of its social, political and economic structures," he added.
He also praised the "significant dividends" of Musharraf's time in office, including on the economic front, in fighting terrorism, tackling corruption and promoting dialogue with long-time foe India.
"But reform depends above all on legitimacy, and that is why the UK has been at pains to stress the importance for Pakistan of strong institutions rather than strong individuals, and why we believe a strong democracy is key. The responsibilities on political leaders in Pakistan are now significant. They need to come together to ensure that the recently elected government carries forward an economic and security agenda consistent with the long-term interests of the Pakistani people," Miliband said.
Britain, he said, would remain "strongly committed" to Pakistan, notably through aid but also through stronger security cooperation with the new government.
"I look forward to the early election of a new president in Pakistan to take forward the important shared work that binds our two countries together," he added.
Meanwhile, the Daily Times has quoted the country's former Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Dr. Sher Afghan, as saying that Article 48(2) of the Constitution already provides immunity to the president.
The article says that "the president is not answerable to any court for the exercise of power and performance of functions of their respective offices for any act done or purported to be done in the exercise of those powers and performance of those functions." (ANI)
