OBITUARY: Pakistan’s Musharraf, military ruler who allied with the US and promoted moderate Islam

Supporters of Pakistan's former military ruler General (r) Pervez Musharraf, hold his posters as they shout slogans during a rally outside his farmhouse in Islamabad on April 18, 2014. (AFP)
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Updated 05 February 2023

OBITUARY: Pakistan’s Musharraf, military ruler who allied with the US and promoted moderate Islam

  • The four-star general who ruled Pakistan for nearly a decade after seizing power in a bloodless coup in 1999
  • Under Musharraf, foreign investment flourished and Pakistan saw annual economic growth of as much as 7.5%

ISLAMABAD: Pervez Musharraf, the four-star general who ruled Pakistan for nearly a decade after seizing power in a bloodless coup in 1999, oversaw rapid economic growth and attempted to usher in socially liberal values in the conservative Muslim country.

Musharraf, 79, died in hospital after a long illness after spending years in self-imposed exile, Pakistan media reported on Sunday. He enjoyed strong support for many years, his greatest threat Al-Qaeda and other militant Islamists who tried to kill him at least three times.

But his heavy-handed use of the military to quell dissent as well as his continued backing of the United States in its fight against Al-Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban ultimately led to his downfall.

Born in New Delhi in 1943, Musharraf was four years old when his parents joined the mass exodus by Muslims to the newly created state of Pakistan. His father served in the foreign ministry, while his mother was a teacher and the family subscribed to a moderate, tolerant brand of Islam.

He joined the army at the age of 18 and went on to lead an elite commando unit before rising to become its chief. He took power by ousting the then prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, who had tried to sack him for greenlighting an operation to invade Indian-held areas of Kashmir, bringing Pakistan and India to the brink of war.

In his early years in government, Musharraf won plaudits internationally for his reformist efforts, pushing through legislation to protect the rights of women and allowing private news channels to operate for the first time.

His penchant for cigars and imported whisky and his calls for Muslims to adopt a lifestyle of “enlightened moderation” increased his appeal in the West in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

He became one of Washington’s most important allies after the attacks, allowing US forces to operate armed drones from secret bases on Pakistani soil that killed thousands and ordering domestic troops into the country’s lawless tribal areas along the Afghanistan frontier for the first time Pakistan’s history.

That helped legitimize his rule overseas but also helped plunge Pakistan into a bloody war against local extremist militant groups.

In a 2006 memoir, he took credit for saving Pakistan from American wrath saying the country had been warned it needed to be “prepared to be bombed back to the Stone Age” if it did not ally itself with Washington.

Musharraf also successfully lobbied then-President George W. Bush to pour money into the Pakistani military. Still, the army’s allegiances were never unambiguous: its powerful intelligence services cut deals with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, and bolstered an insurgency fighting US troops in Afghanistan.

In other areas of foreign policy, Musharraf attempted to normalize relations between New Delhi and Islamabad.

At a regional summit in 2002, less than three years after launching the military operation against India, Musharraf shocked the world when, after finishing a speech, he suddenly moved toward Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to shake hands and offered to talk peace.

Analysts say the issue of Kashmir – which remains the most potent point of contention between India and Pakistan – was close to being solved during the Musharraf era. But the peace process was derailed soon after his rule.

Under Musharraf, foreign investment flourished and Pakistan saw annual economic growth of as much as 7.5 percent — which remains the highest level in nearly three decades, according to World Bank data.

The later years of his presidency were, however overshadowed, by his increasingly authoritarian rule. In 2006, Musharraf ordered military action that killed a tribal head from the province Balochistan, laying the foundations of an armed insurgency that rages to this day.

The next year, more than a hundred students calling for the imposition of Sharia law were killed after Musharraf shunned negotiations and ordered troops to storm a mosque in Islamabad. That led to the birth of a new militant group, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which has since killed tens of thousands in suicide bombings and brazen assaults.

Later in 2007, a suicide attack that assassinated opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, triggered waves of violence. His efforts to strong arm the judiciary also led to protests and a besieged Musharraf postponed elections and declared a state of emergency.

In 2008, the country’s first democratic elections in 11 years were held. Musharraf’s party lost and facing impeachment by parliament he resigned the presidency and fled to London.

He returned to Pakistan in 2013 to run for a seat in parliament but was immediately disqualified. He was allowed to leave for Dubai in 2016.

In 2019, a court sentenced him to death in absentia for the 2007 imposition of emergency rule but the verdict was later overturned.


Ramadan moon sighted, Pakistan to observe first fast on Thursday

Updated 15 min 23 sec ago

Ramadan moon sighted, Pakistan to observe first fast on Thursday

  • Moon-sighting testimonies received from Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Mardan and other cities, Ruet-e-Hilal Committee says
  • Muslims in Pakistan and around the world fast from dawn till sunset during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's central moon-sighting committee announced on Wednesday that the Ramadan moon had been sighted and the nation would observe the first fast of the holy month from Thursday. 

The Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee (RHC), Pakistan's official body responsible for sighting the new moon marking the beginning of each Islamic month, held a meeting to sight the Ramadan crescent in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar. 

"Testimonies of sighting the moon of the holy month of Ramadan were received from many parts of Pakistan," RHC Chairman Maulana Abdul Khabir Azad said during a news conference. "These [areas] included Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Swabi, Killa Saifullah and Mardan. And the moon has been sighted," he added. 

"Hence, it was decided according to consensus that the first of Ramadan, 144 A.H. will fall on Thursday, March 23, 2023, God willing," Azad said.  

 

 

 

Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, wherein Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise till sunset for a month.

This is followed by the sighting of the new moon and is marked by Eid Al-Fitr, a religious holiday and celebration that is observed by Muslims across the world.


Pakistan political crisis deepens as election body postpones Punjab elections to Oct. 8

Updated 51 min 5 sec ago

Pakistan political crisis deepens as election body postpones Punjab elections to Oct. 8

  • Not possible to hold and organize elections fairly and peacefully on April 30, says Pakistan's election regulator
  • Fresh schedule will be issued in due course of time with poll date on October 8, says Election Commission of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's political crisis deepened on Wednesday as the election regulator announced polls in the country's most populous Punjab province would be postponed from April 30 to October 8.

The move is likely to irk former Prime Minister Imran Khan who, since his ouster from office last April, has been calling for early elections and holding mass demonstrations and sit-ins to pile pressure on the government. In recent days, Khan's party has said it would launch countrywide street protests if general elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where provincial assemblies were dissolved in January, are not held within a constitutionally mandated 90-day limit.

After much political and legal debate, Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi announced April 30 as the date for Punjab provincial assembly elections earlier this month. 

The president announced the date after Pakistan's top court ruled that elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces should be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the provincial legislatures.

The controversy was triggered when former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and allies dissolved the Punjab and KP  provincial assemblies in January, in a bid to force the government of PM Shehbaz Sharif to announce nationwide polls.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said in a notification that it held meetings on March 20, 21, and 22 to "deliberate extensively" on the matter of Punjab elections after receiving briefings from law enforcement agencies, ministries of finance, defence, interior and the secretary of Punjab, 

"The Commission after considering the reports, briefing and material brought before it, has arrived at the just conclusion that it is not possible to hold and organize the elections honestly, justly, fairly, in a peaceful manner and in accordance with the Constitution and law," it said. 

"The Commission hereby withdraws the election program issued vide Notification No. F. 2(3)/2023/Cord dated 8th March, 2023 and fresh schedule will be issued in due course of time with poll date on 08th October, 2023," it added. 

"The constitution and the Supreme Court have been practically abolished," Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, a close aide of Khan, wrote on Twitter. "Pakistan is now without a constitution."

 

 

 

Ousted via a parliamentary vote in April 2022, Khan has been pressurizing the government to hold early elections, a demand repeatedly rejected by PM Shehbaz Sharif. Khan has alleged that the ruling coalition government is "running away" from elections out of fear of his surging popularity. 


Pakistan seeks parliament ruling to empower authorities to tackle ex-PM Khan's party

Updated 22 March 2023

Pakistan seeks parliament ruling to empower authorities to tackle ex-PM Khan's party

  • Ruling was asked for in joint session of parliament convened over instability caused by crisis over Khan
  • Interior minister requested house give "guidance" to government about violence stoked by Khan's supporters

LAHORE: Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday sought a parliament ruling to empower authorities to tackle former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party's alleged involvement in violence.

The ruling was asked for in a joint session of parliament convened over the instability caused by the crisis over Khan.

Sanaullah told the house nearly 68 security personnel were injured in clashes and 16 arrested Khan aides will be tried on terrorism charges.

The clashes erupted after Khan's supporters prevented police and paramilitary forces from arresting him in a case in which he is accused of unlawfully selling state gifts during his tenure as premier from 2018-2022. He denies any wrongdoing.

The minister requested the house give "guidance" to the government about the violence stoked by Khan's supporters, who he said included "miscreants, armed groups, and terrorists".

"It is required that the security forces should be given authority and other measures to deal with this issue," he said, adding that Khan's agenda is "chaos and anarchy."

The government has alleged that Khan's supporters had militants among them and ministers have called for proscribing Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.

Khan has rejected the allegation, saying that the government wanted his party out of politics.

The former premier has demanded snap elections since he was ousted in a parliamentary vote of confidence in April last year. Khan's successor Shehbaz Sharif has said that a general election will be held as scheduled later this year.


Pakistani TV anchor breaks internet for continuing bulletin amid powerful earthquake jolts

Updated 9 min 40 sec ago

Pakistani TV anchor breaks internet for continuing bulletin amid powerful earthquake jolts

  • Local TV anchor Shah Faisal says powerful earthquake "frightened" him
  • 6.5-magnitude earthquake in parts of Pakistan killed at least 10 on Tuesday

PESHAWAR: A Pakistani TV anchor broke the internet this week after a video of him continuing to read a news bulletin amid a powerful earthquake late on Tuesday evening was shared widely on social media.

At least 10 people were killed and over 60 injured in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province on Tuesday night when a 6.5-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of the South Asian country.

In a video that has gone viral on social media since, young TV anchor Shah Faisal, 30, can be seen reading the news when tremors start to shake the studio. Instead of running to safety, the journalist, who works for Pashto-language Mashriq TV in KP's provincial capital Peshawar, breaks the news of the earthquake.

"The cameraman had already fled while I was here in the studio," Faisal, who hails from Mardan city, told Arab News in an interview at the studio. "I was speaking, but in my mind, I kept thinking, 'What will happen now?' Our studio is on the fifth floor and it was shaking a lot, there were a lot of jolts."

Before the quake struck, Faisal was reading a news story about Prime Minister Shehbaz during the 09:00 p.m. bulletin. Next, Faisal can be seen swaying from side to side. Numerous LED TVs in the background and his own laptop are also seen shaking as another man scurried out of the studio behind the anchorman who continued with the bulletin.

One of the two producers working with him fled for safety, Faisal said. The second one took over and told him to break the news of the earthquake.

Faisal said he initially thought the earthquake would be of a similar nature to a “milder” one that had taken place in KP around two months ago.

"This one was very severe and its duration was longer too," Faisal said, adding that the quake "frightened" him.

After the jolts, Faisal immediately called home to inquire after his family and learnt that his father was watching him on TV as the earthquake occurred.

Faisal has since been reading comments on social media about his viral video. Almost 90% of them are encouraging while the remaining are critical of his choice to continue with the bulletin rather than run for cover.

"But it is our belief that life and death is in the hands of Allah," Faisal said. 

"And on the day that we are decreed to leave here [this world], we will leave on that day. I had faith and praise be to Allah, he gave me encouragement."


UAE-based Carrefour partners with Pakistani NGO to help the needy in Ramadan

Updated 22 March 2023

UAE-based Carrefour partners with Pakistani NGO to help the needy in Ramadan

  • Carrefour, Pakistan’s Alkhidmat Foundation to provide meals to less privileged Pakistanis in Ramadan
  • The two will also provide humanitarian aid to people affected by the devastating quake in Türkiye, Syria

ISLAMABAD: Retail company Carrefour Pakistan, owned and operated by UAE-based holding firm Majid Al Futtaim, announced on Wednesday its decision to join hands with Pakistani non-profit organization (NGO) Alkhidmat Foundation to provide relief to earthquake victims in Syria and Turkiye, and provide free meals to the less privileged in Pakistan during Ramadan. 

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and charity. The first fast in Pakistan is likely to be observed on Thursday, March 23.

Through the collaboration, Carrefour said the two would provide meals to the less privileged Pakistanis in Ramadan and also send relief items to victims of the recent devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria.

“We believe in the power of collective action and community support. We are greatly pleased to join hands with Alkhidmat Foundation to play our part in eliminating food hunger in the country, whilst providing relief to those affected by the earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria,” Umer Lodhi, Carrefour Pakistan’s country manager, said.

“We hope our combined efforts will make a positive impact on those who need it the most.”

The statement added that customers would also have the opportunity to give back to the community this Ramadan by purchasing special, pre-packed boxes filled with essential food items such as rice, flour, oil, dates & pulses.

The pre-packed boxes, it said, will then be distributed among needy families to help provide them some relief during Ramadan as the South Asian country grapples with decades-high inflation.

“Earthquake relief boxes comprising shelter supplies, clothing, and non-perishable food items are available for customers to buy and donate at all Carrefour stores,” the statement said.