WITH the Balochistan Assembly also following in the footsteps of the other three provincial assemblies on the issue of the President's impeachment, there is little justification for him now to continue to claim to represent the federation. President Musharraf's isolation is increasing with every passing day. On Wednesday night the function held at the President's House was boycotted by the Prime Minister and the federal cabinet. On Thursday no federal minister attended the function arranged to award medals. The absence of the COAS from both functions was widely noted by the media. Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar, who supposedly maintained a soft corner for him, has said it is time now for the President to go. Meanwhile the President has reportedly been told by his foreign friends that it would be unrealistic on his part to hope to continue to hold his office. The chargesheet to indict him has reportedly been finalized and would be presented in the National Assembly on Monday. The President's failure to recognize the ground realities and to obstinately cling on to power, has engulfed the country in a political crisis. The Presidency, the federal government, the provincial administrations, the ruling parties and the opposition are all engaged in a no-holds-barred struggle, with the result that vital issues of governance have been put on the backburner. The ongoing confrontation has also taken away the government's attention from maintaining law and order and bringing militancy under control. Thousands of people have been rendered homeless due to the operation in FATA, but no measures are being taken to rehabilitate them. The ongoing power struggle has generated a widespread sense of political uncertainty in the country, which in turn is affecting the economy badly. The highly sensitive share market continues to drop, with Friday's advance far from making up for past losses. Investments are on hold and there are reports of the flight of capital from the country. The SBP's strict exchange policy measures have failed to check the slide of the rupee which has depreciated by some 10 percent over the last six weeks. The country cannot afford political uncertainty any more. One would like to remind the President of his oft-repeated claim that as far as he was concerned, Pakistan came first and everything else second. On Thursday he said that he was willing to say goodbye to Presidency if his departure could end loadshedding and inflation. Talking to an Indian TV channel, he has conceded that the country was passing through the most delicate period of its history and things could go out of hand if attempts were not made to overcome the impasse. He also said it was time to put national interests above personal interests. There are many who think the political crisis would be defused if the President conceded the popular demand for his resignation.