Islamabad  - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday called off his visit to China, hours before his departure, as the possibility of his impeachment brewed amid crucial meetings of the country's ruling coalition.

Musharraf was scheduled to leave for China in the afternoon to attend Friday's opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics and meet Chinese leaders, including Prime Minister Hu Jintao.

"President Musharraf's visit now stands cancelled and the organizers have been informed about the development," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said.

Musharraf's abrupt decision was preceded by a marathon meeting overnight between the two main partners in the ruling coalition.

Asif Ali Zardari of the Pakistan People's Party and Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz reportedly agreed to impeach the embattled president and reinstate more than 60 senior judges who were sacked by the retired general last year under emergency rule.

The two parties and their allies were set to hold a follow-up meeting Wednesday. (dpa)