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Effort to impeach Pervez Musharraf

The effort to impeach Pervez Musharraf was an August 2008 attempt by opposition parties comprising the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N), Awami National Party (ANP), and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam to force Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf out of office. On August 18, Musharraf announced his resignation.

Background[edit]

On November 3, 2007, President and then-Chief of the Army Staff Pervez Musharraf declared a state of emergency, postponing indefinitely the elections for the National Assembly of Pakistan that were initially scheduled to take place on January 8, 2008.[1] The emergency announcement also contained news of the dismissal of Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, widely considered to have been motivated by a prediction that the Supreme Court was about to invalidate Musharraf's October reelection as President of Pakistan in uniform.[2] This action, combined with a broad-based pro-democracy movement occurring in Pakistan at the time, led to a precipitous fall in Musharraf's popularity.[2] Following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the Pakistani Election Commission announced that the election would occur on February 18.[3] The elections were won by the PPP and the PML-N, two parties hostile to Musharraf and his Pakistan Muslim League (Q) party.

spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said, "We have consistently said the internal politics of Pakistan is an issue for the Pakistani people to decide," adding, "Our expectation is that any action will be consistent with the rule of law and the Pakistani constitution."[23]

United States Department of State

ibnlive.com, The rise and fall of Pervez Musharaff

economictimes.indiatimes.com, Chronology of Musharraf's rule since Pakistan coup

uk.reuters.com, Facts about Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf

reuters.com, ANALYSTS' VIEWS: Reaction to Musharraf's resignation

Musharraf's last televised address to Pakistan, during which he declared his resignation