The present political and public atmosphere in Pakistan reminds one of theatmosphere that prevailed in Washington DC in August, 1974, before the thenPresident Richard Nixon was persuaded with great difficulty by his friends andadvisers to resign as the President instead of facing the ignominy ofimpeachment by the Congress on charges which derived from the enquiries into theWatergate scandal. The evidence against him was so strong that there was not aniota of doubt that the impeachment proceedings, if held, would have resulted inhis removal from office.