Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani Thursday said the impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf could only be done through consensus among all coalition partners.

Talking to the media in Islamabad, Gilani said the coalition government could take an unanimous decision in the parliament.

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf (L) shakes hands with new Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani after Gilani was sworn in at the President House in Islamabad March 25, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) 

The country cannot survive confrontation and every step should be taken in line with the law and constitution, Gilani said, adding that the government was ready to confront any challenge.

Local TV channel Geo quoted Gilani as saying that the government had inherited the menaces of price-hike, electricity crises and judges issue from the previous governments.

He said the new coalition would have to take bold decisions but it was ready to take any decisions in the best interest of the country.

Pakistan People's Party co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari (R) and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif welcome the press to a news conference in Dubai May 1, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) 

He expressed the hope that the vacant seats in the cabinet would be refilled by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) ministers.

Former Prime Minister and chief of PML-N Nawaz Sharif Wednesday said that the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari had agreed to remove Musharraf from the Presidency.

The PPP leadership Thursday turned out to be unhappy about Sharif's claims and said Sharif unnecessarily quoted Zardari.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2008)