Pakistan's Musharraf could go to Turkey: report

Turkey has long been the favored destination for Musharraf in exile, a report in The Guardian daily said.

Rumors that Musharraf is set to quit have been circulating in Pakistan for several days. He has suffered a collapse in support as three of Pakistan's four provincial parliaments have passed resolutions, with overwhelming backing, declaring him unfit for office. The fourth province is expected to follow soon.

The provincial votes were symbolic, but the formal process will begin early next week with an impeachment motion in the national parliament. It is clear that the ruling coalition now has the two-thirds majority needed to impeach him.

"Musharraf spent his childhood in Turkey, and speaks the language and loves the country," the report in The Guardian said. Musharraf is rumored to own property in Turkey, according to the report.

"But Turkey is a Muslim-majority country and he may become a target," the report also said.

The other countries that Musharraf could go are the United States, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, The Guardian added.

"While Washington would prefer not to host his exile, as it would look bad politically, it would if he has nowhere else to go," the report said. It said Musharraf has been one of the Bush administration's closest allies, adding his son lives in the United States.

The report said Musharraf has a small farm just outside Pakistani capital of Islamabad but the house is still being constructed and security would be a challenge. "Another option would be Karachi but it is a volatile city with a huge population of Pushtuns, the ethnic group most angered by his rule," it added.

Saudi Arabia, as a firm ally of Pakistan, would be willing to accommodate Musharraf as part of an exit deal, according to the report. It said Saudi Arabia has a rich tradition of taking in former dictators, and added Nawaz Sharif was given refuge there in 2000, after Musharraf ousted him from power.

Musharraf, under mounting pressure to resign, called on Thursday for reconciliation to tackle economic problems and Islamist militancy.

But Musharraf's appeal apparently failed to check coalition government attempts to force him from power, with one senior official saying preparations to impeach the president if he refused to resign were on track.

Photo: DHA