Pakistan’s president Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation on Monday. The announcement by Musharraf comes day before expected impeachment hearings against him by the Pakistani parliament over his attempt to impose authoritative rule on his country.

“I hope the nation and the people will forgive my mistakes,” Musharraf said in a televised address largely devoted to defending his record.

Musharraf dominated Pakistan for years after seizing power in a 1999 military coup, making the country a key strategic ally of the U.S. by supporting the war on terror. But his popularity at home sank over the years.

There is no true front runner to replace Musharraf yet. Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are being mentioned as two possibilities to do just that. Many people in Pakistan are hoping stability can be brought to their country with Musharraf’s replacement. The shakeup will for sure make things even more interesting in the always turbulent Middle East.

[images: WENN]