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.
Adnan Ahmed Sahib – I’m afraid I have only recently discovered this excellent site, and have not been a regular reader (Blind supporter of Musharraf and all ;-), so I must have missed your comments regarding Mr. Haqqani.
On to my last point – The projections for Pakistani economic growth by almost every major financial institution in the world are currently indicating growth rates of over seven percent given continuity of reforms and policies. Why do I bring this up? Not to tout Musharraf really – but to point out that if things do go down the drain, lets not allow the excuse of a ” interfering military” to make excuses for any regression.
The military has supported this growth (it can’t really buy any of its fancy toys without it) and therefore is unlikely to support or push any policies that would adversely effect it. So the blame, if a slow down does occur (cross our fingers), will lie entirely on this bunch of intellectually deficient clowns I see ready to assume control of 150 million Pakistanis and their destiny.
PS: I heard Jahangir Badr speak for the first time on TV – is it just me or does he really sound like he could have been a character in Andhera Ujala?
Oh I forgot…..
Thank you Mr. President – for taking our country from the edge of the abyss it was teetering at, with a “tyrannical” would-be “Amir ul Momineen” getting ready to destroy whatever little shred of tolerance and open mindedness this plagued society of ours had, to this nation on its way to becoming a true Asian economic powerhouse with a vibrant and independent media (hopefully the curbs will go away with the demise of the emergency).
Thank you Mr. President – for taking the hard unpopular decision of shedding our obsession with the Mujahideen and “strategic depth” – for your dedication, commitment and loyalty to this nation.
Saad
what kind of propaganda you have come up with? This was all promised by President Mushraf?
AM, That’s what I have been saying about Husaain Haqqani for a very long time. An opportunist to the core. God knows what could he still be if he had character.
And the despot has shed his skin, more like it got peeled off him. :)
Congratulations to the civil society of Pakistan, for today you’ve proven it beyond a doubt that when standing together, you’re far more powerful than all the guns, bullets, batons, tear gas rounds of a tyrannical regime combined.