Islamabad, Aug 12: Even as the ruling coalition continued deliberations on a charge sheet against Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, Labour Minister Khurshid Shah has said that the process (of impeachment) would take around one month to complete.

He said the process be completed by the first week of September.

“The entire process will take almost three weeks and will culminate by September 2 or 3, in case President Musharraf refuses to resign,” the Daily Times quoted Shah as saying after the meeting of the committee at the Parliament House.

Islamabad, Aug 12 : Out of the total 54, more than 30 Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) belonging to the Kings’ Party - the PML-Q - stayed away from their party meeting last evening, thereby giving a big jolt to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf who is facing impeachment proceedings from the PPP-led ruling coalition.

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.

Sydney, Aug 12 : If a senior Pakistan journalist is to be believed, US President George Bush has given a royal snub to his old time “anti-terror ally” and Pakistani counterpart Pervez Musharraf, by repeatedly failing to respond to the latter’s phone calls over the past few days.

Bush’s ‘ignoring’ attitude is said to be the result of American strategists’ warning that Pakistan''s intensifying political power struggle was ‘imperilling’ the US-led war against al-Qa''ida and the Taliban.

Islamabad, Aug 12 : Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who was considered as a close confidante of President Pervez Musharraf till being appointed in the top Army post, has reportedly conveyed to his mentor that the military (under him) did not want to be dragged into any political controversy, and that it preferred to remain focused on its “professional and constitutional responsibilities”.

Rawalpindi, Aug 11 : Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf today said that he would prove the allegations of PPP co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari false before the nation.

He made these remarks in meeting with a three-member delegation of PML-Q comprising Marvi Memon, Amir Muqam and Sheikh Waqas Ahmed.

The meeting lasted for an hour in which allegations levelled by Zardari against Musharraf came under discussion, the sources said.

Speaking on the occasion, Musharraf thanked the PML-Q for their support in the hours of need. “I will not disappoint you and face all the allegations of the ruling coalition,” Musharraf said.