August 07, 2008	Thursday	Sha’aban 4, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 6: A beleaguered President Pervez Musharraf held consultations with his political loyalists and constitutional and legal aides on Wednesday in what appeared to be an effort to prepare himself to fight off the ruling coalition in its move to impeach him.

“I will defeat those who try to push me to the wall,” sources quoted the president as saying. “If they use their right to try to oust me I have the right to defend myself.

“I will go down fighting but will not give in to those who are doing so to create more political divisions,” he said.

He said he was an elected president and would continue to serve the nation as long as the Constitution allowed him.

Pakistan Muslim League-Q president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and party leader Hamid Nasir Chattha were the first to meet him. They assured him of their party’s unwavering support “through thick and thin”.

Later, the governors of Punjab and Sindh met the president to discuss the political situation.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad is said to have renewed support for President Musharraf on behalf of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

The president had decided in the morning not to visit China as a state guest for the Olympics opening ceremonies but he was persuaded by his allies to review the decision. It was decided that he would leave for Beijing on Thursday morning, accompanied by Punjab Governor Salman Taseer.

Before the rescheduling of the visit, the Chinese ambassador in Islamabad called on the president.

Reports of a meeting of constitutional and legal advisers with the president were not confirmed by the presidential spokesman Rashid Qureshi.

The sources said that the PML-Q leaders had asked the president to defend himself in person in parliament. They also convinced him not to call off his visit to China which was a tested strategic friend of Pakistan. Private TV channels also reported a meeting between Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and the president but it was denied by Inter-Services Public Relations director general Maj-Gen Athar Abbas.

Chaudhry Shujaat told reporters after his two and half an hour meeting at the president’s camp office that the impeachment bogie was aimed at diverting the attention of the people from real issues.

Ways of countering the impeachment move were discussed at the meeting and the PML-Q assured the president that its legislators would defend him in parliament and outside it.

Chaudhry Pervaiz said: “Gen (retd) Musharraf is an elected president who has the credit of holding free and fair elections. He does not deserve this treatment and we will stand by him in case of any effort to oust him.”

He warned against any move which could sabotage political harmony and create instability at this critical juncture in national history.