Pervez Musharraf

Pervez Musharraf was a Pakistani politician and military officer who served as the tenth president of Pakistan from 2001 to 2008. He rose to power following a 1999 coup d'état that overthrew the government of Nawaz Sharif. After seizing control, he proclaimed himself the chief executive of the nation under martial law.

Early life and education

Musharraf was born on 11 August 1943 in Delhi, British India, to a Muhajir Urdu-speaking family. His father, Syed Musharrafuddin, worked as an accountant for the British Indian government's foreign office and later became an accounting director. His mother, Begum Zarin Musharraf, graduated from Indraprastha College at Delhi University with a degree in English literature. The family lived in a large home known as Nehar Wali Haveli before moving to Pakistan in August 1947. This relocation occurred just days before India achieved independence and the creation of Pakistan.

In 1949, the family moved to Ankara after his father joined a diplomatic deputation to Turkey. During his time in Turkey, Musharraf learned to speak Turkish and developed a lifelong love for dogs. He eventually returned to Pakistan in 1957 to attend Saint Patrick's School in Karachi. Later, he enrolled at Forman Christian College University in Lahore. Although he excelled academically in mathematics, he eventually developed an interest in economics.

Career

Musharraf entered the Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul in 1961 at the age of 18. He graduated in 1964 as part of the 29th PMA Long Course and received a commission as a second lieutenant in the artillery regiment. Prime minister Nawaz Sharif appointed him as the chief of Army Staff and later as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1998. As a four-star general, he acted as the leading architect of the 1999 Kargil War between India and Pakistan. When Sharif attempted to dismiss him from his command assignments following the war, the Army GHQ took control of the civilian government.

He seized the presidency in 2001 through a legal order and a referendum. While he was constitutionally confirmed in this role in 2004, his tenure faced significant challenges. His administration pursued economic liberalisation and privatisation during the premiership of Shaukat Aziz, which led to a rise in the gross domestic product. However, the presidency struggled to contain religious terrorism, tribal nationalism, and Islamic fundamentalism. Musharraf also faced accusations regarding the violation of fundamental constitutional rights.

The political stability of his leadership collapsed in 2007 after he attempted to seize control of the Supreme Court. He resigned in 2008 to avoid impeachment following the suspension of the constitution. In 2013, he returned to Pakistan to participate in a general election, but high courts disqualified him due to lawsuits involving the assassinations of Benazir Bhutto and Akbar Bugti. By 2014, he was declared an "absconder" after moving to Dubai for health reasons. A Special Court in 2019 found him guilty of violating the constitution in 2007 and sentenced him to death in absentia.

Personal life

Musharraf was the second of three sons born to Syed Musharrafuddin and Zarin Musharraf. His elder brother, Javed Musharraf, serves as an economist and a director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development. His younger brother, Naved Musharraf, works as an anaesthesiologist in the United States. Musharraf died at age 79 in Dubai in 2023 after suffering from amyloidosis.

Awards and recognition

Throughout his career, Musharraf received several honors including the Sitara-i-Imtiaz and the Order of Zayed. He was also awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Excellence, the Tamgha-i-Basalat, and the Imtiazi Sanad.