Musharraf

Pervez Musharraf was a Pakistani military officer and statesman who served as the 10th President of Pakistan from 2001 to 2008. Born on 11 August 1943 in New Delhi, his family moved to Pakistan after the partition, and he pursued a military career, eventually rising to the rank of four-star general and serving as Chief of Army Staff from 1998 until his retirement in 2007.

Musharraf came to power in a military coup in October 1999, ousting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He led the country as a de facto head of government and, after a controversial referendum in 2002, held broad constitutional powers. His presidency saw economic reforms and greater alignment with the United States in the War on Terror following the September 11, 2001 attacks. His government worked to liberalize some sectors but also maintained extensive control over politics and the media, including crackdowns on dissent during certain periods.

In November 2007, Musharraf declared a state of emergency, suspending parts of the constitution and removing judges, a move that drew significant domestic and international criticism. He resigned as president in August 2008, transferring power to Asif Ali Zardari and later living in exile in Dubai.

Musharraf returned to Pakistan in 2013 to face treason charges related to the 2007 emergency; he remained a controversial figure in Pakistani politics and law, with his trial and health issues affecting his final years. He died in Dubai on 5 February 2023 after a prolonged illness.

His legacy remains contested: supporters credit him with political stabilization and economic reforms, while critics view his rule as undermining democratic institutions and civil liberties.