So finally, General Pervez Musharraf would become Mr. Pervez Musharraf on Thursday when he will be sworned in as a civilian president at the Aiwan-i-Sadr, Islamabad (13th president of Pakistan). Gen. Musharraf will retire after occupying Chief of the Army Staff post for more than nine years. Given a choice, I am sure he would have loved to continue for another 5-10 years and beat the record set by late Gen. Zia. But anyways, Musharraf paid farewell visits to Joint Staff, Air and Naval headquarters today where he met senior military officials one last time as COAS. Former DG ISI, Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani will take over as new Chief of the Army Staff from Thursday. ATP readers who wish to know more about Gen. Kayani may find this bbc article very interesting.
Musharraf is taking his uniform off at a time when he has become highly unpopular, country is under unnecessary Martial Law, judiciary has been completely destroyed, lawyers and civil society are on the streets protesting against him, media is under severe curbs and he hardly has any friends left anywhere. It would be interesting to see how Gen. Musharraf survives in future as a civilian president.
He would require endorsement of PCO and all his actions since November 3 from newly elected assembly, if elections are held, which will be an uphill task and I really don’t see HOW it will happen unless Q-League wins again.
But then again, anything is possible in Pakistan. Who knows, Q-League wins with a heavy mandate this time after brilliant performance of 5 years in power.
According to Daily Times:
President General Pervez Musharraf would take oath as civilian president at 11am on Thursday, but before this he would relinquish charge of chief of army staff (COAS) to start his second term as president of Pakistan.
“Yes, he is going to take oath at 11am on Thursday,” Musharraf’s spokesman Maj Gen (r) Rashid Qureshi told Daily Times on Monday. He also confirmed that the Ministry of Defence had issued a notification of his retirement as army chief after being in office for nine years.
Farewell: Defence Ministry sources said Musharraf would start holding farewell meetings today (Tuesday) – a clear indication that he had decided to call it a day. “Musharraf will meet top military commanders, principal staff officers and senior colleagues,” defence sources said. The formal handing over of charge to his successor is also part of the farewell proceedings, they added. The sources said Musharraf was fulfilling the promise he made to the nation and the Supreme Court of vacating the army post before taking oath as president. Preparations for the ceremony to mark the change of army command are underway, and a formal ceremony will take place at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, defence sources said.
After the completion of the ceremony, the Defence Ministry will announce the appointment of the new chief of army staff, sources said. A special meeting of corps commanders is expected before the handing over ceremony, they added.
Born in 1943 in New Delhi, Musharraf enrolled in the Kakul Military Academy in 1961. He was commissioned in the Artillery Regiment in 1964. Former premier Nawaz Sharif appointed him as the country’s 13th army chief on October 8, 1998. On October 12, 1999, he ousted Sharif in a bloodless coup and bundled him off to Saudi Arabia on December 10, 2000. On October 7, 2001, Musharraf extended his military term, which is supposed to be a three-year tenure post, for an unspecified period. After the late General Ziaul Haq, who was army chief for more than 12 years from April 1, 1976 to August 17, 1988, Musharraf’s tenure as army chief has been the longest. Last week, the new SC judges validated Musharraf’s victory in an October 6 presidential election, clearing the way for him to serve a further five years in office.
Army security, staff to stay: Sources said President Musharraf’s security would remain entrusted to the army, even after taking oath as a civilian president. A special contingent of Pakistan Army’s Special Services Group, headed by a brigadier, has been tasked with ensuring Musharraf’s security. General Musharraf has also decided to retain his current military staff after resigning as army chief, it was learnt. This includes a full time military secretary, deputy military secretary and deputy chief of staff.
It is too early and premature to say what legacy Gen. Musharraf is leaving as COAS and how he will be remembered. Only time will tell. After all, he is still going to rule us for another 5 years (atleast he thinks that way). So what if he is wearing a suit this time. But lets just hope that Gen. Kayani stays away from politics and takes serious steps to improve the deteriorating image of Pakistan Army.
zia m:
You are right one of the poorest countries has one of the richest Generals. I just hope that now Musharraf is no more COAS, NAB and ISI should investigate the assets of this CIA-sponsored dictator and make them public.
Pejamistri,
I recently found this site and was really enjoying the debate but last couple of days it has gotten ugly here.I found your posts very thought provoking.I am sure ATP moderator will take proper action and get rid of spam.
No sane pakistani will support extremism,some people here are
trying to muddy the waters.Opposing mush does not mean you like OBL or extremists.Mush is creating more extremists by killing innocent civillians,restoration of democratic values and providing education is a better way of fighting radicals.
Every time when there is a hint of civillian rule enemies of Pakistan start crying country is in danger.
It is a shame one of the poorest country
has the richest generals in the world.
Some really encouraging comments on this article.
I thought pakistanis have been draged to darkness by corrupt politicians and fanatics but Musharraf’s shreding of Uniform has made people realise that its all about Pakistan and not just President.
I have heard politicians criticising Musharraf or PML-Q and saying true democracy is the solution to all our problems. Neither PPP or PML-N did anything during their democratic era to stop shia/sunni killings or anything on kashmir or drug trafficing from afganistan or personal weapons licencing or terrorist camps. Their parties do not even have an agenda on our economic policies. PPP & PML-N will only rob the country once again! Are they going to negotiate with Fazulluah on sawat? OH they will only come to conclude that mulana can have his own jirga and rule there in return of all votes for next ellection. Could Nawaz or BB be able to handle pakistan’s black market nukes issue so well?, No one was even given permission to interview Dr.Qadeer. If this was BB he would have been in American jail given her nature of a trator. She has blood of thousands of sikhs on her hands. I spoke to a Sikh a month ago and he said, he loves Musharraf, because in his era we have been able to visit our holy places in Pakistan peacefully and we love pakistani people.
PML-Q has worked hard in last five years and changed so many things in Pakistan, just look at the Banking sector and National ID scheme, these are the basic necessities for economic growth and security. They are not perfect, there are corrupt people among them too but they are better then PPP & PMLN, Alot better.
I bet PML-Q will win if PPP doest not buy votes in sindh and PML-N do not buy votes in Punjab! It is upto Pakistanies to vote for their own future!!
@pak tea house
I subscribed this blog , because of some balanced debates on it previously. However I unsubcribed it day before yesterday when I realized that ATP administrator is using different yard stick for moderating the comments. I have no objection on that it is his right and he should use it.
I believe that the blog comments are being spammed. I was even labelled as indian
@ATP Administrator
I apologies again if somehow I again violated the comment’s policy , however I won’t be posting any comments in future so rest assured this is last time. You may delete this comment if you like. But would appericiate if you keep it.
And not to mention that he and his care taker cabinet are not going to hold free and fair elections, especially when the judiciary is also not independent.
What next is certainly an important question. But lets not get carried away. Mush is still around. He has the army with him and has just forced himself as president on the nation once again (through this recent coup). It’s not that his act of taking off the uniform makes the issue of democracy go away.
Mush wants to stick to power at any cost, for the last eight year nation has to pay the cost and its first time he has to take off the uniform. he has damaged all the institutions of Pakistan and what i can see is the use of his powers to dismiss the elected government. I am sure he will do that when new government will try to get rid of him.
A very valid point voiced by AM yes we now need to stop celebrating the Musharraf retirement, we actually need to a answer a very important question that is ‘Whats Next’