Musharraf leaves behind mixed legacy

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-19 07:26

Facing the threat of impeachment, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation Monday, ending almost a decade at the nation's helm.

Born in New Delhi on Aug 11, 1943, Musharraf arrived with his parents in Karachi, Pakistan's first capital, a day after the partition of India in 1947.

When he took power in a bloodless coup in 1999, Musharraf, an urbane special forces veteran who pledged to install "true" democracy and bring greater stability to the nation, was popular for his friendly and straight-talking style, and took steps to liberalize the economy and the electronic media in his first years in office.

He also backed measures to empower women - such as amending rape laws to give women more protection - and worked to improve the nation's educational standards.

Musharraf had always held up the economy as one of his successes. Brought back from the brink of bankruptcy and made more open and investor friendly, Pakistan became one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

But the gap between rich and poor widened, and soaring international food and energy prices along with mismanagement during the last year undid much of the good.

Musharraf's more lasting legacy may be a peace process with India launched in 2004, two years after the nuclear-armed rivals went to the brink of a fourth war.

Some liberals perceived a kindred spirit in the bluff ex-commando, who liked a peg of whisky and wasn't shy of being photographed with his pet Pekingese, despite more orthodox Muslim taboos regarding alcohol and dogs.

Musharraf's favorite film was Gladiator, the tale of an honorable general who saves Rome from a wicked emperor.

The alliance with the US in the war against terror after the Sept 11 2001 attacks was always a hard sell in Pakistan, and contributed to Musharraf's later unpopularity.

His enemies said he betrayed Islam by caving in to US pressure to abandon support for the Taliban government hosting Al-Qaeida in Afghanistan.

Musharraf had promised to return Pakistan to democracy, but critics say he stifled political freedom.

His resignation can be traced back to March 9, 2007, when he tried to force Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry to resign.

Chaudhry's defiance mobilized a lawyers' movement to defend the judiciary and galvanized the opposition.

Musharraf last November introduced emergency rule for six weeks before the Supreme Court could rule on the legality of his re-election.

Having secured a second term, Musharraf quit the army and set an election date.

Led by former premier Benazir Bhutto's widower Asif Ali Zardari, the Pakistan People's Party won the vote in February and forged an alliance with former premier Nawaz Sharif.

Key dates in past decade

Oct 7, 1998: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif appoints Musharraf as chief of army staff.

Oct 12, 1999: Musharraf ousts Sharif, seizes power in a coup.

June 20, 2001: Musharraf becomes president of Pakistan while still army chief.

Sept. 11, 2001: Al-Qaida launches attacks on the United States. Musharraf pledges Pakistan's support for the US, abandoning the Taliban and enraging many devout Muslims.

April 30, 2002: Musharraf holds a referendum to secure support to continue as president for a five-year term.

Oct 10, 2002: Elections install a pro-Musharraf parliament.

Dec 14, 2003: Explosives wreck a bridge in Rawalpindi just after Musharraf's car has passed. Days later, Musharraf survives twin suicide car bombings on the same road.

Dec 30, 2004: Musharraf gains support of parliament to stay on until 2007.

Oct 6, 2007: Parliament elects Musharraf for a new five-year term in a vote boycotted by the opposition.

Nov 3, 2007: Musharraf declares a state of emergency, suspending the constitution and dismissing Supreme Court judges.

Nov 28, 2007: Musharraf steps down as army chief, becomes a civilian president.

Dec 15, 2007: Musharraf lifts the state of emergency.

Feb 18, 2008: Pakistan parliamentary elections bring Musharraf's opponents to power.

Aug 8, 2008: Ruling coalition leaders announce they will seek Musharraf's impeachment.

Aug 18, 2008: Musharraf announces his resignation.

Agencies