Pervez Musharraf

General Pervez Musharraf

Born:August 11, 1943 - Dehli, India.

Appointments:President, Chief Executive, Chief of Army Staff -Pakistan.

BIOGRAPHY

General Pervez Musharraf,  the second of three brothers,  was born to an educated Syed family on August 11, 1943 in Delhi. After the creation of Pakistan the family chose to settle in Karachi. His father, the late Syed Musharaff-ud-Din a career diplomat retired in 1974 while his mother successfully devoted her time between caring for her family and serving the International Labour Organization, retired in 1987.

The General had the opportunity of spending his early life (1949-1956 in Turkey and can, consequently, converse fluently in Turkish language.

General Musharraf attended renowned Educational Institutions of Pakistan like Saint Patrick’s High School, Karachi and Forman Christian Collage, Lahore.

He joined the Pakistan Military Academy in 1961 and was commissioned in an elite Artillery Regiment in 1964. He saw action in 1965 war as a young officer in the Khem Karan, Lahore and Sialkot Sectors with a self propelled Artillery Regiment. He was awarded Imtiazi Sanad for gallantry. He later volunteered and served for seven years in the Special Service Group "Commandos". He also participated in the 1971 war as Company Commander in a Commando Battalion.

General Musharraf has the privilege of commanding two self-propelled Artillery Regiments. As a Brigadier, he had the distinction of commanding an Infantry Brigade as well as Armoured Division Artillery. On promotion to the rank of Major General on 15th January 1991, he was given the command of an Infantry Division and later of a prestigious strike Corps as Lieutenant General on 21st October 1995.

General Musharraf has served on various important staff and instructional appointments during his career. These include Deputy Military Secretary at the Military Secretary’s Branch, member of Directing Staff both at the Command and Staff College, Quetta and the National Defence College. He has also remained the Director General Military Operations at the General Headquarters.

A graduate of Command and Staff College, Quetta and the National Defence College, General Pervez Musharraf also distinguished himself at the Royal College of Defence Studies, United Kingdom. Commenting on his performance in his report remarked, "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".

General Pervez Musharraf was promoted to the rank of General on 7th October 1998 and appointed Chief of Army Staff. He was given the additional charge of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee on 9th April 1999 and is performing duties as the Chief Executive of Pakistan since 12th October, 1999. He also continues to hold the office of Chief of Army Staff and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee.

As a promising young Captain, he got married to Sehba Musharraf on 28th December 1968. He remains a devoted family man and a loving father to their two children Ayla and Bilal, both happily married. They have a grand-daughter, Mariam from Ayla.

A natural sportsman, who has always loved the outdoors and spends most of his leisure time playing Squash, Badminton or Golf. The General also takes keen interest in water sports, is a enthusiastic canoeist and loves to sail. An avid reader he is well versed in Military History, being his favourite subject.

General Pervez Musharraf took oath as President of Pakistan on June 20, 2001.

CLAIM TO FAME

President General Pervez Musharraf is one of the four people selected by Newsweek magazine as representative of how they changed the course of history on September 11 last year.

In a report titled Four Lives: Their Faith and Fears, the journal says these four by day have been leaders and heroes but by night, have fought anxiety and an incalculable sense of loss.

Newsweek said President Pervez Musharraf, US National Security Adviser Condolezza Rice, Commander-in-Chief Southern Command US Forces General Peter Pace and Lisa Beamer, the widow of Todd Beamer who died resisting one of the hijacked planes, stand out among those “who braved the fires of September 11 well at great personal costs.”

“President Musharraf made the decision quickly and alone,” the report said referring to his decision to abandon support for the Afghan Taleban, which ultimately led to their fall and put Al Qaeda on the run.

“For four hours after he learned of the 9-11 attacks, he sat quietly in a private lounge in the Karachi offices of Pakistan TV, the state-owned network,” Newsweek says in its latest edition.

“Then he addressed his nation, denouncing extremists and placing his country squarely on the side of the United States. He informed some army commanders beforehand, but he did not really consult anyone.”

Musharraf’s speech represented a major shift for Pakistan. Up until 9/11, Pakistan had been financing the Taleban with $100 million a year.

“A friendly Afghanistan offered Pakistan ‘strategic depth’ — a place to retreat to if India overwhelmed the Pakistani Army in an invasion. Now Musharraf was abruptly reversing course, even if that meant shaking up Pakistan’s powerful intelligence service, which was riddled with pro-Taleban Islamists,” the report says.

Musharraf followed the examples of two of his leadership models: Richard Nixon and Napoleon. Musharraf is a fan of Nixon’s book Leaders. He frequently quotes Nixon’s aphorism, “paralysis through analysis.”

Musharraf told Newsweek: “I took a fast decision. But I did think about it, very carefully. I keep to Napoleon’s view that two thirds of the decision making process is based on analysis and information, and one third is always a leap in the dark.”

Musharraf was immediately denounced as “Busharraf” by his many critics. His life was said to be in danger. He was unable to move anywhere without three motorcades — two decoys and a real one. And yet he appeared bluff, hearty and cheerful.

He has been through perilous times before. He took power in 1999 because the then prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, put his life at risk. Sharif tried to block Musharraf’s plane from landing, hoping that he would run out of fuel and crash, or seek exile.

Musharraf’s plane was flying on fumes when it landed in Karachi and the army chief overthrew the democratically elected, but corrupt and unreliable, prime minister in a coup.

“Musharraf has not always been wise. In 1999, he staged an invasion of Kashmir that revived the longstanding feud with India and this summer brought both nuclear powers to the brink. But he does not brood or dither,” the report says.

Says a Pakistani ambassador: “He’s a man who looks ahead and never back. He doesn’t muddle in the past at all.”