Update- Musharraf denies stepping down

Pak President Pervez Musharraf's spokesperson has refuted reports of him stepping down. Rashid Quereshi called media reports of Musharraf's resignation baseless. The denial follows reports of Musharraf’s resignation on August 14.

President Pervez Musharraf has decided in principle to quit and a decision in this context will be announced by him on August 14, Independence Day, a senior Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) leader confided to Daily Times.

It is learnt that if he resigns ahead of the impeachment the ruling coalition will give him safe passage.

Apologise to people: One advice given to President Musharraf is to apologise to the people of Pakistan and the judiciary for sacking Iftikhar Chaudhry and the other judges and restore them all before quitting. Another advice to him is to restore the judges and say he will accept whatever judgment they give on the validity of his presidential election last November and the legitimacy of the Provisional Constitution Order. It is not known what decision he has taken in this regard.

It is understood that if he resigns, President Musharraf will remain in the Presidency for a while as allowed by law until he is able to shift to his newly built home in Chak Shahzad on the outskirts of Islamabad, and possibly leave the country a few weeks hence.