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.
This man, Musharraf, is ruthlessly vindictive and revengeful. Emergency plus nafaz kar ke us ne apne mukhalifin se chun chun kar badle le liey jo uska maqsad tha. Opposition waale hameshah ki tareh lakir peette reh gaey aur ab to woh election se bhi faraar ka soch rahe hein. Behtar to yahi ho ga kih woh is mouqeh ko haath se nah jaane dein aur awaam ko mobilize karein sirf ek nukati agende par aur woh nukta ho adliah ki bahaali ka. Agar adliah bahal nah hooiy to sab kuchh bekaar he kionkih jeise Allama Iqbal ne farmaya he:
“Jajaale padshaahi ho kih jamhoori tamaashah ho
Juda ho deen (meaning adl-o-insaf) syaasat se to reh jaati he Changezi”
RJ
well said i will ditto what you have said.
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RJ says:
November 29th, 2007 5:12 pm
As we all know Pakistani laureates are famous for not respecting their true heroes, but me being an average Joe salutes Musharraf and his legacy. He proved to be the most visionary and charismatic leader Pakistan has ever have. I know due to their religious and ethnic bigotry there are people who couldn
Once again blaming only Army is very strange on this board. Pakistan has not produced any leader After Quade Azem Mohammad Ali Jinah and Mushraf. They are the only 2 best leaders Pakistan had so far.
Imran Khan has great intentions but do not know how to bring his point across.
Army has not only saved country on borders but inside the Government as well.
Always opposition party knocks the doors of army when they hate other side. People pray as well for Army to take over when they get fed up with civilian Government.
Now tell me Army Generals are born in Pakistan, better Citizans than Civilian Politicians, More discipline , More education , Better communication , historically they have done better job than civilian leaders. why not Army? Protesting against army ? why not become a good politician/leader of Pakistan? Then Army will have no reason to takeover.
Pakistani people must keep eyes and ears open and watch out for enemy inside Pakistan physically or via Internet.
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
We have not learned anything. It seems like repeatetion of Ayub Khan election. It seems like NS and JI will buycott election, there will be street protest and down the road we will get another marshall law. I wish if all of our political actors can show some elasticity to save country.
As we all know Pakistani laureates are famous for not respecting their true heroes, but me being an average Joe salutes Musharraf and his legacy. He proved to be the most visionary and charismatic leader Pakistan has ever have. I know due to their religious and ethnic bigotry there are people who couldn’t t tolerate Musharraf, but it doesn’t matter, a true leader is always a leader; and I don’t have any doubts he will shine as a president too. God bless Pakistan.