Pervez Musharraf's endgame drama has taken a new twist after Saudi Arabia's intelligence chief flew to Pakistan to urge the President's political opponents to allow him a graceful exit from office.
Less than two days before Pakistan's Government is scheduled to lay out impeachment charges against Musharraf in
Parliament, Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz arrived in Islamabad to intervene on the President's behalf. He urged the Government to agree to a deal that would allow Musharraf to avoid impeachment.
The intervention of Saudi Arabia could prove crucial. Along with the United States and China, the Arabian kingdom - a major source of economic aid - has considerable influence in Pakistan.
"The main purpose of the [Prince's] visit was to find an amicable solution to the impeachment issue and that no one should become a laughing stock," said a senior Pakistan official.
The stumbling block to a deal for Musharraf's departure is the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the man whom the former general forced from power in a 1999 coup. Sharif has insisted the President should not be granted immunity from prosecution.
Saudi Arabia has been closely linked to the long struggle between Sharif and Musharraf.
Last year Prince Muqrin was again involved in Pakistan's politics when Sharif returned from exile in Saudi Arabia to try to launch an election campaign, only to be immediately deported to Jeddah by Musharraf.
The announcement 11 days ago by Pakistan's Government that it intended to impeach the President triggered furious speculation as to whether Musharraf would choose to resign or else fight for his political life.
Chief among the President's concerns is to receive a guarantee that he will not be prosecuted and will continue to receive round-the-clock security.
Musharraf's senior lawyer, Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, said that prior to allegations of corruption, subversion of the constitution and economic mismanagement being levelled at him by the Pakistan People's Party, he may have been prepared to stand down. "Maybe before ... but not now."
Since seizing power in 1999, Musharraf has cheated both physical and political death several times. If he survives this latest crisis, it will be his most surprising yet.
- INDEPENDENT
