Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf took oath for a five-year term as a civilian president Thursday, one day after he relinquished the post of army chief, a post he kept for over nine years.
Musharraf came to power by the title of chief executive in a bloodless coup in Oct. 1999 that displaced the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and installed Musharraf, who has been chief of army staff since 1998.
Musharraf was known in Pakistan as President General Musharraf in recent years, a title showing the unseparable side of him as an army man.
He impressed the public as an intelligent man capable of an approach unique and ideal in solving difficult problems, keeping cool under all circumstances and mindful of long-term effects of contemplated actions.
“The attitude has been forthright and candid with the result that all actions have always met with success,” an author by the name of Masood Ahmad wrote recently in the local newspaper The Nation.
Musharraf was born on Aug. 11, 1943 in old Delhi of India. His family moved to live in Pakistan after the partition of India and Pakistan. He joined the Pakistan Military Academy in 1961 at the age of 18 and was commissioned an artillery officer in 1964.
He was awarded a medal for bravery in fighting against India in1965 and also participated in the 1971 war against India as a company commander.
He also trained at the British Royal College of Defense Studies. His performance report says: “a capable, articulate and extremely personable officer, who made a most valuable impact here. His country is fortunate to have the services of a man of his undeniable quality.”
The man has used his intelligence to overcome relatively humble roots and rise through military ranks to major general in 1991, to lieutenant general in 1995 and, later, to general on Oct. 7, 1998,when he was appointed chief of army staff, a post he kept for over nine years.
Musharraf first became president in 2001 and his presidency was confirmed in a referendum in 2002, giving him a five-year term.
He had recently been maneuvering for a transition in Pakistan from military to civilian presidency. Winning presidential polls with a majority on Oct. 6, Musharraf relinquished his post as army chief on Nov. 28.
The move was welcomed by the general public as well as opposition leaders and described as an “extraordinary development” by local media.
Musharraf took oath as a civilian president for a five-year term on Nov. 29. A move, he said, was a milestone in Pakistan’s transition to democracy.
A business man in the southern city of Karachi said, “now everything is clear. He is the genius that is required to control Pakistan.”
Musharraf is married, with two children Ayla and Bilal, each of whom has two children. He is fond of old songs and likes to swim and play tennis.