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A man watches a televised speech of President Pervez Musharraf to the nation in Islamabad August 18, 2008
Supporters of Islamist party Shahbab-e-Milli hold signs as they chant slogans against the country's president in Multan August 17, 2008
Lawyers burn an effigy of Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf during a protest in Multan
Supporters of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party hold pictures of their slain leader Benazir Bhutto and share sweets after President Pervez Musharraf's resignation in Hyderabad
Supporters of Pakistan Muslim League-N party share sweets to celebrate President Pervez Musharraf's resignation in Multan
Supporters of Pakistan Muslim League-N party share sweets to celebrate President Pervez Musharraf's resignation in Multan,ISLAMABAD-Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf quit office on Monday to avoid impeachment charges, nearly nine years after the key U.S. ally in its campaign against terrorism took power in a coup.Speculation the former army chief would resign had mounted since the fractious coalition government, led by the party of assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, said this month it planned to impeach him."Whether I win or lose, the nation will lose," Musharraf, 65, said of the impeachment process in an hour-long televised address in which he passionately defended his record."The honor and dignity of the country will be affected and in my view, the honor of the office of president will also be affected."
Prolonged jockeying and uncertainty over Musharraf's position had hurt financial markets in the nuclear-armed country of 165 million people, and raised concerns in Washington and elsewhere that it was distracting from efforts to tackle militancy.Coalition officials had said Musharraf sought immunity from prosecution but he said in his speech he was asking for nothing."I don't want anything from anybody. I have no interest. I leave my future in the hands of the nation and people," he said.One main coalition party, that of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif whom Musharraf ousted in 1999, has insisted he face trial for treason. Bhutto's party says parliament should decide.
Prolonged jockeying and uncertainty over Musharraf's position had hurt financial markets in the nuclear-armed country of 165 million people, and raised concerns in Washington and elsewhere that it was distracting from efforts to tackle militancy.Coalition officials had said Musharraf sought immunity from prosecution but he said in his speech he was asking for nothing."I don't want anything from anybody. I have no interest. I leave my future in the hands of the nation and people," he said.One main coalition party, that of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif whom Musharraf ousted in 1999, has insisted he face trial for treason. Bhutto's party says parliament should decide.
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