Pakistan was agog with speculation that beleaguered President Pervez Musharraf is likely to announce his resignation in his address to the nation today and may leave the country.
However, his spokesman Rashid Qureshi dismissed the reports of his possible resignation as "absolute rubbish and nonsense".
There are also reports that Musharraf may not not resign and might announce repeal of National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), under which leaders including late former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her husband Asif Zardari were given immunity, and also rebut the charges being levelled against him in an impeachment motion planned by the ruling coalition.
Media reports said that should Musharraf step down, he may also decide to leave the country for Saudi Arabia, which has been reportedly brokering a deal on his behalf with the ruling coalition.
Musharraf, who held consultations with his legal and political advisors this morning, will address the nation at 1 pm, presidential spokesman Maj Gen (retired) Rashid Qureshi said. Other sources said Musharraf is expected to make "some important announcements" during his speech.
He also met chiefs of intelligence and security agencies to discuss the security and political situation in the country.
Reports for the past few days, have suggested that the increasingly isolated Musharraf will step down before the PPP-led coalition launches the impeachment process against him in the parliament this week.
