ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia on Saturday rushed its intelligence chief to Pakistan to broker a deal between embattled President Pervez Musharraf and the ruling coalition that plans to launch impeachment proceedings against him next week, media reports said.
Prince Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz met Musharraf and leaders of the Pakistan People's Party-led coalition to discuss the possibility of the President being given a "safe exit" if he steps down, TV channels quoted sources as saying.
There was no official word on the matter and the Saudi embassy declined to comment. Saudi Arabia has close ties with Pakistan and its political leaders and has considerable influence in the country.
In the past, it has played a role in brokering understandings to settle political problems within Pakistan.
TV channels reported that Musharraf had sought help from Saudi Arabia for his safe exit in the face of the ruling coalition's plans to launch impeachment proceedings against him next week.
Prince Muqrin, who is the intelligence chief, is reportedly engaged in efforts to convince Musharraf to resign honourably, and in return the ruling coalition will neither impeach him nor try him in court.
The Prince conveyed a message from Saudi King Abdulalh to Musharraf and leaders of the coalition. He also met opposition PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain.
The Prince's visit came at a time when pressure is mounting on Musharraf to resign before he is impeached. Tariq Azim, a leader of the pro-Musharraf PML-Q, said on Friday that talks are underway for providing the President a safe exit.
Source : Times Of India
Saturday, August 16, 2008
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