A newspaper report tells of President Musharraf holding consultations with his close friends on the issue of resignation. Under the circumstances, his departure from the political scene constitutes the only way out from the ongoing confrontation, which has generated uncertainties that have a debilitating impact on the economy and are diverting the government's attention from vital issues. There is a perception that the long session of talks the President had with COAS Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani also centred on the subject. Being a professional soldier, General Kayani is expected to have warned the President of the perils of confrontation with a popularly elected coalition government enjoying the support of a two-thirds majority in the combined Parliament. The people have widely welcomed a number of policies being pursued by the present government, including attempts to resolve the issue of militancy through talks, which have started producing positive results. Measures taken to control food shortages and to generate, within the next 18 months, enough electricity to bring to an end the all too frequent power shutdowns, have also been hailed. People want the government to pursue its economic and social agenda without hassle. With the constitutional package, about to be tabled in the National Assembly, according to Senator Babar Awan as early as on June 2, things have started moving fast. President Musharraf has become a target of a number of forces. Mian Nawaz Sharif has claimed that he has received an assurance from Mr Zardari for impeaching the President. The ex-servicemen have announced that they would hold a demonstration in front of the Army House to get it vacated while a plea has been filed in the Supreme Court to instruct the President to vacate it. SCBA President Aitzaz Ahsan has announced he would lead a lawyers' procession to Army House. What is required on the part of his opponents is to avoid doing or saying anything that can stall his peaceful exit. Certain slogans, indicating a desire for vengeance, raised during a meeting addressed by Mian Nawaz Sharif on Friday, should have been avoided. It is time political activists learnt tolerance. It was no use on the part of the PML(N) leader to raise issues which are premature, like the trial of the President, as one can only cross a bridge when one comes to it. By delaying his departure, President Musharraf would only add to the number of his opponents and make them increasingly determined. Any misadventure on his part would cause unimaginable damage to the country and raise the level of the ongoing confrontation many notches higher. This would in no way benefit him or the country. The best way is to prepare to say goodbye to power that he has enjoyed for nearly nine years.