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.
@ Pakistan’s Musharraf Problem…
No. Musharraf whatever you think of him…did NOT start the Swat Insurgency….that is born of a cancerous cult that was just waiting to pounce…and I am not one of the General’s supporters….however, I see what I see and he did not start it….it is disingenuous to just lay it all at his feet and ignore the wider problems that face us now…regarding swat…the fault lies with Mush for dallying and ignoring a threat till it become too big to handle…
literally of a Nero fiddling while Rome burned….but I guess that is not apt as at least Nero KNEW that rome was burning….I have yet to see Mush portray that he even KNOWS just how much trouble we are in….or maybe he knows but is just too pre-occupied with somehow hanging on to this charade of a presidency…
your argument ‘ON THE SWAT ISSUE’ are similar to bankrupt arguments given by Lal Masjid crowd appeasers that it would never have happened had Mush not been there…..
In the same vein, I dont see you blaming BB for ‘starting’ the TNSM carried out mini insurgency in 94 in which again…hundreds of FC men were martyred….
Its about time that you and others realised that Pakistan is at war…and at war with probably the most savage and blood thirsty enemy that we have ever faced….that is of this sick wahabi/salafi combine that seeks to over run us.
so lets keep our facts straight here. Pretending that you are not under attack will not make the enemy turn tails and run…and neither will blaming swat on Mush…
And yes, while coming to office this morning I saw someone’s written on a wall at I-8 Islambad, “Hang Mush”…. and I thought there might have been something that caused someone to chalk that wall with the words so harsh….
@ Aadil
You Sir, speak the truth,
Could have not said it any better….
One thing that happened in his power packed regime was the polarization of Pakistani society into liberals and extremists or what was tried to project, causing a severe blow to unity of the nation. The damage he caused to the national institutions including the image of the very institution of Army is unprecedented in the 60 years history of Pakistan. He didn’t hesitated in resorting to exhibit his millitiary might against anyone he conisidered a thrreat to his own cause. Even he couldn’t please his masters in the west who constantly demanded him to do more. Judging by his past one cannot predict a smooth future for the man can top a contest of the most hatred person in the history of Pakistan.
Let us hope as Pervez Musharraf wears his new clothes that this is not 1969 and a not re-run of the humiliating end Ayub Khan faced at the hands of his hand-picked successor Yahya Shaggy Dog and Yahya’s puppet-master Bhutto the very day “Field Marshal” Ayub Khan became a ” civilian President” after leaving his Army post.
That is my bit of knowledge from Qudratullah Shahab’s “Shahab-nameh” for all those who love Pakistan.
God save Pakistan.