Pervez Musharraf

Pervez Musharraf was a Pakistani military officer and politician who took power in a coup in 1999. He served as president of Pakistan from 2001 to 2008. He also served as the 10th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs from 1998 to 2001 and the 7th Chief of Army Staff from 1998 to 2007. He was born in a feudal family of Delhi and was educated at the Forman Christian College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He joined the Pakistan Army in 1964 and fought in the Indo-Pakistani wars of 1965 and 1971. He rose through the ranks and became the director general of military operations in 1993. He was appointed as the chief of army staff by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1998 and played a key role in the Kargil War against India. He staged a coup against Sharif in 1999 and became the chief executive of Pakistan. He assumed the title of president in 2001 and supported the US-led war on terror after the 9,11 attacks. He faced several challenges during his presidency, such as the 2002 assassination attempt, the 2007 Lal Masjid siege, the 2007 state of emergency, the 2007 lawyers' movement, and the 2008 impeachment motion. He resigned in 2008 and went into self-exile in London and Dubai. He returned to Pakistan in 2013 to contest the general elections but was disqualified by the courts. He was also indicted for high treason and other charges and was sentenced to death in absentia in 2019. He challenged the verdict and was granted bail on medical grounds. He died in Dubai in 2023 due to complications from amyloidosis, a rare disease that affects the organs. He was considered a controversial figure in Pakistani history, as he was seen as a dictator who undermined democracy and the rule of law.