Musharraf may be impeached if MPs want: Pak Speaker

Contending that all policy matters should be decided in Parliament, Pakistan National Assembly's newly-elected first woman Speaker, Fehmida Mirza, has said President Pervez Musharraf may be impeached by a two-thirds majority if MPs favour such a move.

Contending that all policy matters should be decided in Parliament, Pakistan National Assembly’s newly-elected first woman Speaker, Fehmida Mirza, has said President Pervez Musharraf may be impeached by a two-thirds majority if MPs favour such a move.

“If Parliamentarians want to impeach Musharraf, they may do so with a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly and the Senate,” she said.

“I’ll see the matter is in accordance with the Constitution because I am a custodian of the National Assembly and not a party. Parliamentarians should be allowed to take decisions on policy matters. They should be allowed to legislate as they represent their constituencies. They should discuss issues and pursue legislation,” She told the Daily Times.

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Asked if Parliament really could be supreme and sovereign while the President had the powers to dismiss an elected government and dissolve the assembly under Article 58(2b) of the Constitution, Mirza said this was still an ‘issue’.

“Article 58 (2b) is there and has derailed democracy again and again,” she said. “It is an issue. Then again, we are passing through a transition and I feel that this is the first step. All parliamentarians have the mandate of the people.”