Musharraf quit as part of negotiated settlement: Zardari

Musharraf quit as part of negotiated settlement: Zardari
* Int’l, local stakeholders acted as guarantors
* President hoped Musharraf would ‘play golf’
* Wants Asma to head truth commission
By Sajjad Malik, Daily Times, September 14, 2009

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Zardari on Monday disclosed for the first time that his predecessor General (r) Pervez Musharraf had resigned as part of a negotiated settlement guaranteed by “international and local” stakeholders.

“All international and local powers, which have stakes in the region, were guarantors of General (r) Pervez Musharraf’s negotiated resignation,” the president told journalists at an iftar-dinner he hosted for them.

Though the president did not say much on the issue, he tacitly conceded that Musharraf could not be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution as was being demanded by some opposition parties, especially the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). “I had been hoping that he (Musharraf) would play golf.”

When a journalist asked whether army chief General Ashfaq Kayani was also one of the negotiators and guarantors, the president asked: “Why do you want to bring him (Kayani) in this debate?”

The president avoided responding to a question when specifically asked whether the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government would try General (r) Musharraf. “The PPP never recognised him (Musharraf) as the country’s president,” Zardari said.

About the constitution of a truth and reconciliation commission, the president said: “I would advise my party (the PPP) to set up such a commission ... and it is my desire that a person like Asma Jehangir should head this commission.”

For complete article, click here

Related:
Musharraf playing dirty games in desperation - The News
Musharraf admits US aid diverted - BBC
Musharraf undecided on returning to Pakistan - AFP