New Delhi: The Punjab Provincial Assembly in Pakistan has passed a resolution asking Pervez Musharraf to take a confidence vote in four provincial assemblies and the senate.
Pakistan's ruling coalition on Monday set in motion the process to impeach Pervez Musharraf for alleged misconduct, violation of the Constitution and financial irregularities but the embattled President vowed to slug it out in Parliament that began a crucial session.
However, the session has been adjourned till 5 pm on Tuesday. The impeachment process is likely to take two to three weeks. A joint meeting of the PPP and PML-N will resume on Tuesday to finalise the charge sheet against Musharraf, which is expected to list more than 100 charges.
The impeachment move gained momentum after the Punjab provincial assembly voted overwhelmingly for a resolution asking him to quit or seek a vote of confidence in parliament.
Ignoring mounting pressure from both friends and foes to quit before the National Assembly initiates the impeachment process, Musharraf said he would prove "false before the nation" all the allegations levelled against him by the ruling coalition.
The session of the 342-member Assembly commenced on Monday evening as the PPP-led coalition said it has drawn up an "unimpeachable" chargesheet listing allegations of misconduct, violation of Constitution and financial irregularities against Musharraf, who turned 65 today.
"It will be an unimpeachable document supported by documentary evidence of all the acts of omission and commission committed by Musharraf that make him liable to impeachment several times," PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.
In Lahore, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah moved the resolution against Musharraf, which was supported by 321 members in the 371-strong Assembly.
In a clear indication of the lack of support for the President among his ally PML-Q, only 25 of the 84 of its members voted against the resolution.
Though the adoption of the resolution by the Punjab assembly does not have any legal implications, the ruling coalition is hoping to mount pressure on Musharraf to quit through its passage.
Officials in Islamabad said the charges against the President are likely to be filed later in the week amid a rising clamour in the ruling coalition that he step down.
Presidential spokesman Major General Rashid Qureshi said Musharraf will not resign "in any situation" and battle it out.
Musharraf will have the right to defend himself after the impeachment motion is moved.
Ahead of the National Assembly session, Musharraf held talks with his supporters in the opposition PML-Q during which he vowed to prove "false before the nation" all charges against him, the local Geo TV reported.
PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has alleged that Musharraf "misappropriated" $ 700 million of aid given by Washington to Islamabad for supporting the war on terror.
Leaders of the ruling coalition have also accused Musharraf of incompetence and pursuing economic policies that have brought Pakistan to the brink of an economic crisis.
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