August 08, 2008	Friday	Sha’aban 5, 1429

LONDON, Aug 7: The British government regards the move by the PPP-led coalition government to impeach President Musharraf as an internal matter of Pakistan.

Responding to a question, a spokesperson of the Foreign and Common wealth Office said that while Britain considered the move ‘as an internal matter it would, however, continue to support and work with the government of Pakistan.”

“We want to see a stable and prosperous Pakistan,” he said.

Pakistan and the UK have had a number of high-level contacts during exchange of ministerial visits last month.

Observers here feel that Musharraf’s political fate would surely have come up for discussion during these contacts and, therefore, they believe that the impeachment move announced by the political leadership of Pakistan would not have come as a surprise for the British government.

“Therefore, more or less an empathetic reaction from the UK to the impeachment move. As if they knew what was coming and accepted it as a fait accompli,” they added.

No one from the MQM international secretariat was available for comments as the leadership was busy in meetings till the filing of the report.

Most Pakistanis living here and those of Pakistani origin who were approached by Dawn for their reaction said the move should have been made immediately after Feb 18 poll results.