August 14, 2008	Thursday	Sha'aban 11, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 13: The federal cabinet on Wednesday expressed the confidence that the impeachment move against President Pervez Musharraf could start as early as next week with the convening of special sessions of the National Assembly and Senate.

Terming the adoption of resolutions calling for the president’s impeachment in three out of four provincial assemblies a tidal wave in support of democracy and against dictatorship, Information Minister Sherry Rahman said adoption of the resolution in the Sindh assembly unopposed showed that “all democratic forces support the move against the president”.

Referring to reports about efforts for providing a ‘safe exit’ to the beleaguered president, she said: “A decision about a bail-out rests on the leadership of the (ruling) coalition parties.”

She said under Article 44 of the Constitution, it was the president’s prerogative to tender resignation. Otherwise, he would be given a chance to defend himself.

Asked if PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari would surrender benefits accruing from the National Reconstruction Ordinance (NRO) if Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf resigned, Ms Rahman said: “Mr Zardari did not need the benefits of the NRO. He could have been exonerated from court cases, if he had reached a deal with the government of that time.”

Briefing newsmen after the federal cabinet’s meeting, she said the cabinet had observed that Punjab, NWFP and Sindh had “rejected the politics of dictatorship”, and expressed hope that the Balochistan assembly would also show the same resolve.

The minister said Sindh Assembly’s adoption of the resolution with “an absolute majority of 93-0 showed in clear terms that forces supporting the president have started distancing themselves from him and decided to abstain instead of opposing the resolution”.

She said the cabinet had discussed the parameters of the charge-sheet being prepared against President Musharraf, but declined to give details. She said the document would be kept secret until submission to leaders of the coalition.

The cabinet also approved the amended Anti-Dumping Duties Ordinance of 2000, envisaging the setting up of an appellate tribunal to be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. It will hear appeals against decisions of the National Tariff Commission.

The minister said that in principle, the cabinet had decided to restore students unions, adding that a committee would be set up to coordinate with all stakeholders and submit a report before laws were enacted to undo the martial law regulations banning the unions.

She said arms would not be tolerated on educational campuses and a code of conduct would be framed in consultation with all student organisations.

The cabinet, she said, also expressed satisfaction over the “successful visit of the prime minister to the US”. She said the cabinet had been told about various steps that had followed the prime minister’s meetings with American officials, including the $15 billion social sector assistance, enhanced economic relations and food security assistance.

The cabinet was informed that the prime minister would unveil an ambitious relief programme in his speech on the Independence Day, detailing shifting of Rs34 billion subsidies to the “poorest of the poor”.

The cabinet reviewed the economic situation and was informed that efforts to reduce the trade deficit from nine per cent to seven per cent had been successful. “Efforts are being made to reduce it to 4.5 per cent.”

It had further been decided that all relevant ministries would deliberate upon the recommendations of the ‘Round Table on Gender Mainstreaming’ for implementation.

The cabinet approved the federalisation of provincial roads from Larkana to Lakhi, from Gharo to Keti Bunder and from Hyderabad to Khokrapar.

The cabinet ratified an agreement signed between Yemen and Pakistan on cooperation in fisheries.