Musharraf relaxes as coalition squabbles over future

As Pakistan’s power-brokers consider who will be their new leader, former president Pervez Musharraf appears to be taking things in his stride.

Mr Musharraf’s aide Tariq Azim says the former president, who was forced out of office this week, has dismissed media reports he is about to leave Pakistan.

Instead he has been relaxing, playing tennis and spending time with his family, especially his mother.

Mr Azim says Mr Musharraf was in a jovial mood when the aide saw him on Tuesday and mentioned he would like to write a follow-up book to his 2006 memoir In The Line Of Fire.

Pakistan’s new president is expected to be named within 30 days but the ruling coalition leaders are yet to resolve an impasse over whether to reinstate judges sacked by Mr Musharraf.

The ruling coalition in Pakistan is led by the parties of slain former premier Benazir Butto and ex-prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

The parties showed unity in filing the impeachment charges against Mr Musharraf which resulted in his resignation, but since then they have been unable to agree on a successor or whether to reinstate the judges he sacked.

Mr Sharif wants the judiciary restored immediately but talks have ended without agreement and will start again on Friday.

source : abc.net.au