Lahore, Aug 15 : A former British high commissioner in Pakistan reportedly tried to persuade former Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif to grant a safe exit to President Pervez Musharraf, here last evening. But, the latter is learnt to have turned down the request, telling the ex-envoy that Musharraf should either resign or face impeachment.

Nawaz told him that three of the four provincial assemblies in the country had already passed resolutions demanding Musharraf to seek vote-of-confidence or face impeachment.

Islamabad, Aug 15: Pakistan Presidency has reportedly refuted the recent reports suggesting that President Pervez Musharraf had decided to resign, especially after a deal brokered with the coalition government about providing him indemnity and security at his new residence on the outer-skirts of Islamabad.

Denying the reports, Presidential spokesman Rashid Qureshi described the reports published by the foreign media about Musharraf''s stepping down as “baseless”, reported the Dawn.

London, Aug 15: It is now widely believed in Islamabad that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has decided to step down and that a deal has been brokered between the Presidency and the coalition government to ensure a safe exit to the beleaguered President.

A close aide of Musharraf at the Presidency reportedly conceded that he has decided to step down in order to avoid a parliamentary impeachment that was likely to begin on Monday.

Islamabad, Aug 15 : A minister in Pakistan coalition government has said that the country’s Pervez Musharraf remained President for eight years, hence he would be provided proper security cover after he resigned from the post.

The country’s Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis, Syed Khursheed Shah said that security was the “legal right” of every citizen and the President would be provided adequate protection as well.

Islamabad, Aug 15: Apparently rejecting the suggestions that Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf would be given indemnity if he resigns, PML-N leader and former Pakistan premier whose elected government was toppled by Musharraf in Oct 1999 military coup, has said that the President had “trampled” on the country’s constitution and he has to go.

He ruled out the possibilities of any safe passage to the President.

Islamabad, Aug 15: If sources close to the parleys between the Presidency and the PPP-PML-N combine are to be believed, the coalition government has offered indemnity and security to President Pervez Musharraf if he stepped down from Presidency before Impeachment proceedings begin Monday.

According to the sources, PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif has agreed to change his rigid stance against the President who is likely to finalise a decision in the next few days.