LAHORE: Despite President Pervez Musharrafs fall from grace and his subsequent resignation, it is not yet clear if he will stay on in Pakistan or proceed abroad to spend the rest of his life in self-imposed exile.

"My fate is in the hands of the Pakistani people," Musharraf said in his address to the nation. However, certain circles in the government claim that a few hours before his resignation, Musharraf had handed his fate to the countrys military leadership as well as some international mediators while seeking guarantees that he would not be tried for his misdeeds if he agrees to quit voluntarily.

Sources in the government say that a day before his resignation, the incumbent ISI chief Lt Gen Nadeem Taj was flitting between the Presidency and the Prime Ministers house to ensure a safe exit for Musharraf.

Ever since Zardari and Sharif decided to pursue impeachment proceedings against him earlier this month, Musharrafs men have been wrangling with the coalition, the army and diplomats from the US, the UK and Saudi Arabia for his safe passage out of power and perhaps out of the country. Envoys of these countries were thus involved in the negotiations as Musharraf wanted international guarantors to ensure he is neither arrested nor tried after his resignation, as demanded by Nawaz Sharif.

Amid reports that Saudi Arabia, a friendly sponsor and often the final destination for Pakistani leaders seeking asylum, had already sent an aircraft to collect Musharraf, circles close to the former president claim the resignation came only after Zardari agreed to give him safe passage, meaning that Musharraf will be allowed to leave honourably.

Last week, Saudi intelligence chief Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz had visited Pakistan to ensure an amicable resolution to the crisis. The visit came amid speculations that Musharraf could be forced into exile if he quits.

Till last year, Sharif and his family stayed in Jeddah for about seven years after being forced into exile by Musharraf. The Saroor Palace, where Sharif lived while in exile, is vacant these days and there is every possibility that Musharraf will be staying there if he indeed decides to proceed to Saudi Arabia.

Sources say Musharraf was also thinking of shifting to the US, home to his Boston-based son Bilal. However, they added that after the US Secretary of States denial on Sunday that it has giving asylum to Musharraf, he has had second thoughts and might eventually decide to travel to Turkey where he reportedly owns a prestigious villa.

Saudi Arabia provided shelter to Ugandan military dictator Idi Amin for about 16 years with his sixty children and four wives when he was ousted from his country after coup.

Source : DNA