Musharraf to be impeached on Aug 11

In an apparent breakthrough, Pakistan's two main ruling coalition allies on Thursday said they have reached an "understanding" on impeaching President Pervez Musharraf and reinstating judges sacked by him last year.

Media reports however said the impeachment motion is likely to be placed on August 11.

After three days of marathon talks, PML-N leaders said the two parties had reached broad agreement on the two issues.

PPP sources said that the two parties had been able to resolve differences that had arisen following Musharraf suddenly approving a proposal to reinstate eight judges of the Sindh High Court whom he had sacked during last year's emergency rule.

PML-N spokesman Siddique-ul-Farooq said the impeachment of Musharraf would be followed by the restoration of the deposed judges "within 24 hours".

He told reporters, "I think it may take days, not weeks. Both the (impeachment and reinstatement of deposed judges) will be completed within days."

Farooq also said both parties cannot "afford further delays" on the impeachment and restoration of the deposed judges two thorny issues they have grappled with since they came together in March to form a coalition.

Senior PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal, a confidant of Sharif, said, "I can say that an understanding has been reached on all important issues and we will present the outcome of our consultations before the nation. I am very hopeful that it will be a positive outcome."