August 19, 2008	Tuesday	Sha’aban 16, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Aug 18: Before his last address to the nation as head of the state, Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf met some foreign diplomats at Aiwan-i-Sadr and indicated to them that he was resigning.

According to sources, the diplomats arrived in vehicles with their number plates covered and remained at Aiwan-i-Sadr till the end of the address.

Some sources said the presence of foreign diplomats on the occasion indicated that arrangements had been finalised for Gen (retd) Musharraf’s exile and he might leave the country soon.

President Musharraf also met Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Tenveer Mehmood, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Afzal Tahir and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Abdul Hameed Dogar.

After his speech, the president was given a guard of honour and he met members of his staff before he was flown back to the President’s Lodge in Rawalpindi.

About 300 guests, including the three services’ chiefs and allies of the president, were invited to a farewell dinner.

Gen (retd) Musharraf is likely to leave the country after spending a few days in the President’s Lodge and he may settle in Turkey, Saudi Arabia or the United States.