On paper, Pakistan’s president is a ceremonial head of state, but the post, like the presidential palace Mr Zardari is likely to inherit, has undergone a vast expansion. He will have his finger on the nuclear button, and will possess the authority to fire and appoint the all-important army chief and to summarily dismiss the government.

Former president Pervez Musharraf removed more than 60 judges under an emergency order on November 3 last year, just as the Supreme Court was set to rule against his election for a second presidential term. The announcement was expected to be made after a meeting of ruling coalition leaders last night.

In the wake of the joint effort in pushing out Mr. Musharraf, there appeared to be a momentary desire within Pakistan’s new governing coalition to keep the momentum going, and to resist the internecine squabbling that has characterized the coalition since it won parliamentary elections in February.

The Pakistani President had imposed a state of emergency in November last year to force his re-election to another five-year term through the Supreme Court, but his political allies were trounced at the February polls. The new governing coalition finally overcame months of divisions and agreed to impeach Mr. Musharraf on August 7.

The details of how the Pakistani president would exit, and whether he would be able to stay in the country or would seek residency abroad, are now under discussion between representatives of Mr. Musharraf and the governing coalition, the politicians said.

There was intense speculation in Pakistan yesterday that the military could be poised to stage another coup, or that President Musharraf may use his constitutional powers to dismiss the Government and parliament, thereby snuffing out the impeachment moves.

The new coalition government has summoned the national assembly, or lower house of parliament, to sit on August 11 and could begin the impeachment proceedings then, a senior official said. President Musharraf’s allies have previously said he would fight any attempt to topple him.