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Musharraf Beijing bound despite home turmoil

  • Story Highlights
  • Pakistan media had said Musharraf canceled trip "due to developments at home"
  • Hours later, APP put out report saying he had postponed departure by a day
  • Governing coalition deciding whether to impeach him
  • It believes president may dissolve parliament and dismiss the PM
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(CNN) -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf will attend Friday's opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in China, despite an earlier report that he scrapped the trip amid a brewing political standoff in his home country.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf

Pervez Musharraf seized power in Pakistan in a 1999 military coup.

Initially, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan -- quoting the foreign office -- said Musharraf had canceled his trip "due to developments at home."

Hours later, APP put out another report saying Musharraf had postponed his departure by a day, and will leave on Thursday.

"In view of our special relations with China, the president has decided to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics," according to the latest APP report, citing a statement from the foreign office spokesman.

He is to attend the opening ceremony on Friday and meet with Chinese leaders and other heads of state.

Musharraf's representatives could not be reached by CNN for comment.

The Pakistan's People's Party -- which leads the governing coalition -- is considering whether it should give Musharraf an ultimatum to resign or should threaten to impeach him, a party spokesman told CNN.

PPP spokesman Capt. Wasif Syed said the coalition is considering the option because it believes the president is considering dissolving parliament and dismissing the prime minister.

"This is not a good omen for the democratic government," Syed said.

The coalition is holding "intense negotiations" Wednesday at the residence of PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, party spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.

Asked about the situation, Dr. Ishtiaq Ahmad -- an Islamabad-based political analyst -- told CNN on Wednesday that "the next 24 to 48 hours are very crucial."

Ahmad, a professor of international relations at Islamabad's Quaid-i-Azam University, said he believes Musharraf "will fight back" against any attempt to remove him from power.

"Before they impeach the president, he might pre-empt them by using article 58(2b)," he said, referring to the constitutional article that gives the president power to dissolve parliament and dismiss the prime minister.

Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 military coup, has seen his power erode significantly since he stepped down as the country's military ruler last year, and since the PPP's victory in February's parliamentary elections.

Ahmad said any attempt to remove Musharraf would be a "next to an impossible task" because the president still has support.

"The army doesn't want him to be eliminated, the Americans are still favoring him," he noted.

-- CNN's Reza Sayah and Sophia Ahmad contributed to this report.

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