Ex-Pak Army General says negotiations on for ensuring a safe exit for Musharraf

London, Aug 12 : If former Pakistan Army general Talat Masood is to be believed, Punjab Chief Minister and former premier Nawaz Sharif’s brother Shahbaz Sharif is acting as the interlocutor for the coalition federal government in the ongoing negotiations for ensuring a safe exit for President Pervez Musharraf, who is facing impeachment from the coalition government.

“Negotiations are going on for a safe exit to be given to him. Gen Kayani will be meeting Musharraf later this evening. Shahbaz Sharif [Mr Sharif''s younger brother] is acting as the interlocutor for the coalition. I think the Americans and the army are demanding he be given [safe passage]. Impeachment would mean a huge distraction from the war on terror,” The Independent quoted Masood as saying.

Some other analysts believe that a “safe exit package” was already being negotiated for him by the Army’s chief of staff Gen Ashfaq Kayani and the US government.

Meanwhile, several allies of Musharraf have begun to distance themselves from him, saying he should stand down for the good of the country, but the former general again insisted he would fight the impeachment charges being prepared by his opponents. Meanwhile, the process to oust Musharraf gathered additional pace as a crucial regional assembly overwhelmingly passed a vote of no confidence against him, saying he was “unfit” to rule.

Aftab Sherpao, a former interior minister in Musharraf''s government and leader of a small regional party, said he was considering joining those seeking to force out the President. “Musharraf is going to fight these charges on a moral ground to try to disprove them....... But when it comes to the numbers, I think he''s lost it,” he said.

Government officials have said the charges against Musharraf will focus on eight key points, including violating the constitution, damaging the economy and the sacking of senior members of the judiciary. The head of the PPP, Ms Bhutto''s husband Asif Ali Zardari, upped the stakes over the weekend when he said Mr Musharraf could also be investigated for corruption. (ANI)