ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - President Pervez Musharraf's spokesman on Friday denied reports that the embattled Pakistani leader was set to resign, even as another ally said back-channel talks were under way on ways to avoid his impeachment.
The spokesman, Rashid Qureshi, also rejected as "nonsense" claims that Musharraf was seeking legal immunity in case he did step down.
"These unsubstantiated spate of reports are totally baseless and malicious," Qureshi said, adding such reports were having a "negative impact" on the country's economy.
Former army chief Musharraf dominated Pakistan for years after seizing power in a 1999 military coup, gaining favor from the United States after supporting it in the war on terror.
But his rivals won February parliamentary elections and formed a coalition that has sought to push him chief out of office and already largely sidelined him. Ruling coalition officials have said an impeachment motion could reach Parliament as early as next week.
"There is a lot of background talks going on, whereby a way is trying to be found so that there is no impeachment," Sen. Tariq Azim, a top official in the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Q party, said earlier Friday.
He said the president's possible resignation, with legal protections, was an option, as was the idea of stripping down the presidency to a figurehead role.
Asked if Musharraf had decided to quit, Azim told The Associated Press, "There are people who are advising him to avoid confrontation, but I don't think he has made up his mind."
Azim said people on all sides generally agreed an impeachment battle would strain the country at a time when it faces critical challenges, such as a sinking economy