Talks on Musharraf exit reportedly under way

Pakistan's Defense Minister Ahmad Mukhtar said the ruling coalition was in touch with Musharraf's aides.

"We have conveyed to them that the coalition is determined for impeachment, and if he wants to save himself, the best way is for him to quit," Mukhtar said.

The ruling coalition has not voiced a united position on whether it would be willing to grant Musharraf legal immunity.

Mukhtar indicated Friday he would not oppose that.

"If a person moves to the side, we are not in the habit of bothering him. This would not be a good attitude, if someone is lying on the ground and we go aggressively against him."

Sharif opposes immunity
But on Thursday, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who leads the second biggest party in the ruling coalition, said he opposed granting legal immunity to Musharraf. Sharif's party has previously said Musharraf should be tried for treason.

Sharif, whom Musharraf pushed out of power in his coup, alleged the president had violated the constitution and compromised the nation's sovereignty, a reference to Musharraf's alliance with the U.S. in the war on terror.

As president, Musharraf still retains the power to dissolve parliament, but such a step would be enormously controversial, and even his allies have advised him against it.

Such a move also would require the support of the army, which has indicated it wants to stay out of politics. There have been no public signs that the army is coming to rescue its former chief — a significant factor in a country that has spent more than half of its 61 years under military rule.

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