July 9, 2001. Copyright, 2001, Graphic News. All rights reserved

Profile: General Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan
By Elisabeth Ribbans

LONDON, July 9, Graphic News:  GENERAL Pervez Musharraf, PakistanÕs recently self-appointed president, is following a well-trodden path in the countryÕs short and turbulent political history. Three army chiefs before him have elevated themselves to head of state, causing Pakistan to lurch between democracy and dictatorship at regular intervals without ever gaining a stable footing. The military has ruled the nation for 26 of its 54 years Ð and has never been far from power during the times in between.

On June 20, General Musharraf became the latest of the brass-button brigade to go into bat for the military. In forcing the resignation of President Rafiq Tarar, he completed what most observers regarded as his inevitable acquisition of absolute power. And the decision to act when he did was almost certainly governed by the need to raise his standing ahead of important talks with Atal Behari Vajpayee, prime minister of arch-enemy India, on the disputed region of Kashmir.

The journey to the presidency began in October 1999, when the general led a bloodless coup dÕŽtat against the civilian government of Nawaz Sharif. It was SharifÕs attempt to sack Musharraf as army of chief of staff that determined the timing of the rebellion but its success lay in a loss of support for the government in particular and disillusionment with corrupt politics in general.

At a stroke, Musharraf saved his old job and acquired a new one: the personally created role of chief executive. In return, he promised to end graft, promote economic progress and restore law and order. He also pledged to honour a Supreme Court ruling for national elections to be held within three years. But few thought Musharraf would be content to leave Pakistan entirely to its fate come 2002; he had already ruled out stepping down as head of the army when his term ended this October.

In proclaiming himself president, the 57-year-old soldier professed to be ÒembarrassedÓ: not by the action itself but by its necessity. The national interest and not personal prestige was his only motivation. ÒI am not an intriguer,Ó he told journalists.

Certainly, that was what the civilian government that appointed him to lead the armed forces in 1998 believed. Musharraf Ð who received part of his military training in the UK Ð had proved a brilliant soldier but was never regarded as a likely insurgent. Here, at least, there has been some surprise. The son of an Urdu-speaking immigrant family, he was thought to lack the potential power base available to members of the Punjabi class that typically comprise the armyÕs elite. In character, he was seen as modest; in his politics, neutral.

Something may be rotten in Òthe land of the pureÓ Ð the hopeful translation of the countryÕs name Ð but there is widespread anxiety over the ability of an unelected, unaccountable leader to forward the cause of sound democracy on behalf of 146 million citizens. MusharrafÕs first act on becoming president was to dissolve parliament and four provincial assemblies, suspended since the coup. A generous interpretation suggests it will make the task of reform Ð which has so far failed to materialize Ð much simpler. It may also prepare the ground for fresh elections which the president insists will go ahead in October 2002. If he keeps that promise alone, he will have gone a step further than Generals Ayub, Yahya and Zia.
/ENDS