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.
Its quite disheartening to see people still roiling in the mud celebrating at Musharraf’s doffing of his uniform, rather than facing up to the question of “what next”? Makes sense of course, because now that the punching bag is gone, there is nothing to look forward to, except the same old tried, tired and corrupt faces (who still think that making statements like “dictatorship is causing all the problems in FATA and democracy will resolve them” actually passes for policy statements) and we have to wake up to the reality of actually working towards a proper representative government.
Now is when all those baying for Musharraf’s blood have to decide who is going to lead Pakistan – but even such “principled” individuals such as Aitazaz Ahsan, snubbed by his “leader” so many times, do not have the “principles” to break away from an individual who has been convicted in foreign courts, and has proven to be a failure – twice!
I for one would be glad were Aitzaz to get together with the ex CJ’ and Justice Wajihuddin and even Imran – to present the people of Pakistan with a new choice! We are ready for it! But alas, even those with “principles” seem to be finding it hard to actually act upon them. Notice the stream of “politicians” heading towards the same old faces .
Hussain Haqqani, who has been touting himself on all the US talk shows as a Pakistan expert, has just had his wife given a ticket by the PPP. So much for ever thinking the drivel issuing from him was “objective”. I will be writing to NPR and any other talk shows I have heard him on or will hear him on to remind them that this individual is nothing but an opportunist – whose biased views were sold to the American audience as objective analysis. He should have clarified his connections.
Anyone who hates Army in Pakistan must be out of your mind.Root to the problem of Army taking over is that Pakistan has not produced any good politician/leader.
If we have honorable politicians we will never have Army rule in Pakistan
Name one credible Politician after Mohammad Ali Jinnah? A true worker?
Army Generals has saved Pakistan not only at borders but also as a Government.
Army Generals are Pakistani Citizens fought wars for Pakistan, they are well educated , they are well mannered , well discipline and have the balls to make descisuons under pressure.
All the Mushraf haters are either ignorants of Pakistan, brain washed by the enemy propaganda, and they have no idea who is right and who is wrong.
Keep eyes and ears open enemy is inside Pakistan and enemy is online every where. Even here , Nuclear powers do not fight wars with rockets and bombs , they are fought with espionage and manipulations. Enemy is doing exactly this to take Pakistan back. Watch out.
Allah bless Pakistan
Mushy Quagmire
Mushraf is the best Pakistan ever got. He has plan for enemy.To understand his tears you have to trust Mushraf.
To all Pakistanis :
Keep eyes and ears open enemy is inside Pakistan and enemy is online every where. Even here , Nuclear powers do not fight wars with rockets and bombs , they are fought with espionage and manipulations. Enemy is doing exactly this to take Pakistan back. Watch out.
Allah bless Pakistan
Tearful Musharraf retires as army chief
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071128/ap_on_re_as/pa kistan
No matter who comes as army chief, mindset is not going to change unless we get civilian rule by popular support and not by signing deals with the dictator. Now even if civilian rule comes back to Pakistan, army will keep its presence by a retired general as president or even if president is gone, religious parties or any other proxies are always available to serve the purpose.