Editing Pervez Musharraf

{{Short description|President of Pakistan from 2001 to 2008}}
{{Redirect|Musharraf|the given name|Musharraf (name)}}
{{Pp-move}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=March 2025}} 
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix    = [[General (Pakistan)|General]]
| name                = <!-- defaults to article title when left blank -->
| native_name         = {{nobold|پرویز مشرف}}
| native_name_lang    = ur
| honorific_suffix    = [[Nishan-e-Imtiaz|NI(M)]]   [[Hilal-e-Imtiaz|HI(M)]]   [[Tamgha-e-Basalat|TBt]]
| image               = Pervez Musharraf - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos - 2008 (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Musharraf in 2008
| order               = 10th
| office              = President of Pakistan
| term_start          = 20 June 2001
| term_end            = 18 August 2008
| primeminister       = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|''See list''}}
| [[Zafarullah Khan Jamali]]
| [[Shujaat Hussain]]
| [[Shaukat Aziz]]
| [[Muhammad Mian Soomro]] ([[Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan|caretaker]])
| [[Yusuf Raza Gilani]]
}}
| predecessor         = [[Muhammad Rafiq Tarar]]
| successor           = [[Muhammad Mian Soomro]] (acting)
| office1             = [[Chief Executive of Pakistan]]
| term_start1         = 12 October 1999
| term_end1           = 21 November 2002
| president1          = Muhammad Rafiq Tarar
| predecessor1        = [[Nawaz Sharif]] (Prime Minister)
| successor1          = Zafarullah Khan Jamali (Prime Minister)
| office2             = [[Minister of Defence (Pakistan)|Minister of Defence]]
| term_start2         = 12 October 1999
| term_end2           = 23 October 2002
| predecessor2        = Nawaz Sharif
| successor2          = [[Rao Sikandar Iqbal]]
| order3              = 10th
| office3             = Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
| term_start3         = 8 October 1998
| term_end3           = 7 October 2001
| predecessor3        = [[Jehangir Karamat]]
| successor3          = [[Aziz Khan (general)|Aziz Khan]]
| office4             = 7th [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Army Staff]]
| term_start4         = 6 October 1998
| term_end4           = 29 November 2007
| president4          = {{plainlist|
* Muhammad Rafiq Tarar
* Himself
}}
| primeminister4      = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|''See list''}}
| Nawaz Sharif
| Zafarullah Khan Jamali
| Shaukat Aziz
| Muhammad Mian Soomro (caretaker)
}}
| predecessor4        = Jehangir Karamat
| successor4          = [[Ashfaq Parvez Kayani]]
| birth_name          = Syed Pervez Musharraf
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1943|08|11|df=yes}}
| birth_place         = [[Delhi]], British India<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2023|2|05|1943|8|11|df=yes}}
| death_place         = [[Dubai]], United Arab Emirates<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->
| death_cause         = <!-- should only be included when the cause of death has significance for the subject's notability -->
| citizenship         = {{plainlist|
* [[British subject]] ([[Partition of India|until 1947]])
* Pakistan (after 1947)
}}
| party               = [[All Pakistan Muslim League]]
| otherparty          = [[Pakistan Muslim League (Q)]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Sehba|1968}}
| children            = 2
| residence           = 
| alma_mater          = {{plainlist|
* [[Pakistan Military Academy]]
* [[Pakistan Command and Staff College|Command and Staff College]]
* [[National Defence University, Pakistan|National Defence University]]
* [[Royal College of Defence Studies|Royal College of Defence]]
}}
| awards              = [[Pervez Musharraf#Awards and decorations|Full list]]
| nickname            = <!--Military service-->
| allegiance          = {{PAK}}
| branch              = {{army|PAK}}
| serviceyears        = 1964–2007
| rank                = [[File:OF-9 Pakistan Army.svg|20px]][[File:US-O10 insignia.svg|20px]] [[General (Pakistan)|General]]
| unit                = [[Pakistan Army Regiment of Artillery|Regiment of Artillery]]
| commands            = {{plainlist|
* [[I Corps (Pakistan)|I Corps]]
* [[Special Services Group]]
* Director General Military Operations
* 40th Infantry Division
}}
| battles             = {{tree list}}
* [[Indo-Pakistani Wars]]
** [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|War of 1965]]
** [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|War of 1971]]
* [[Siachen conflict|Siachen War]]
* [[Kargil War]]
* [[Afghan Civil War (1996–2001)|Afghan Civil War]]
* [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)]]
* [[1999 Pakistani coup d'état]]
* [[2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff|India–Pakistan standoff (2001)]]
* [[Pakistan's role in the War on Terror|War on Terror]]
** [[Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]
* [[Insurgency in Balochistan]]
{{tree list/end}}
| relatives           = 
| relations           = 
| education           = 
| resting_place       = Army Graveyard, [[Karachi]]
}}
{{Contains special characters|Urdu}}
{{Pervez Musharraf sidebar}}

'''Pervez Musharraf'''{{Efn|{{langx|ur|{{nastaliq|پرویز مشرف|Parvez Muśharraf}}}}}} (11 August 1943 – 5 February 2023) was a Pakistani [[general]] and politician who served as the tenth [[president of Pakistan]] from 2001 to 2008. 

Prior to his career in politics, he was a four-star general and [[:Category:Pakistan Army appointments|appointed]] as the [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|chief of Army Staff]] and, later, the [[Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee|chairman]] of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee|Joint Chiefs of Staff]] by [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|prime minister]] [[Nawaz Sharif]] in 1998. He was the leading [[War studies|war strategist]] in the [[Kargil infiltration]] that brought [[India and Pakistan]] to the brink of war in 1999. When prime minister Sharif unsuccessfully attempted to dismiss general Musharraf from his command assignments, the [[General Headquarters (Pakistan Army)|Army GHQ]] [[1999 Pakistani coup d'état|took over]] the control of the civilian government, which allowed him to control the military and the civilian government.

In 2001, Musharraf seized the presidency through a [[Legal Framework Order, 2002|legality]] and a [[2002 Pakistani referendum|referendum]] but was constitutionally [[2004 Pakistani confidence vote|confirmed in this capacity]] in 2004. With a new [[Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan|amendment]] to the [[Constitution of Pakistan]], his presidency sponsored the premierships of [[Zafarullah Jamali]] and later [[Shaukat Aziz]] and played a [[Pakistan's role in the War on Terror|sustaining and pivotal role]] in American-led [[War on terror]] in [[Afghanistan]]. 

On social issues, his presidency promoted the [[social liberalism]] under his [[enlightened moderation]] program; and on economic front, the [[Privatisation in Pakistan|privatization]] and [[Economic liberalisation in Pakistan|economic liberalization]] was aggressively pursued though the [[Premiership of Shaukat Aziz|Aziz's premiership]] that sharply rose the overall [[gross domestic product]] (GDP). Without the meaningful reforms and the continued banned on the [[Trade unions in Pakistan|trade unions]], the decline of [[Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division (Pakistan)|social security]], and the [[economic inequality]] rose at a rapid rate. The Musharraf presidency also suffered with containing the religiously-motivated [[Terrorism in Pakistan|terrorism]], [[List of violent incidents in Pakistan (2006–2009)|violence]], tribal nationalism, and the [[Islamic fundamentalism|fundamentalism]]. His presidency was also accused of violating the [[Fundamental rights in Pakistan|basic rights]] granted in the [[Constitution of Pakistan|constitution]]. In 2007, he attempted to seized the control of the [[Supreme Court of Pakistan|Supreme Court]] by approving the [[Suspension of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry|relieve]] of the [[Chief Justice of Pakistan]], and later suspended the writ of the constitution, which led to fall of his presidency dramatically when he resigned to avoid [[Effort to impeach Pervez Musharraf|impeachment]] in 2008. 

In 2013, Musharraf returned to Pakistan to participate in the [[2013 Pakistani general election|general election]] but was later disqualified from participating when lawsuits were filed against him in the country's [[High courts of Pakistan|high courts]] alleging involvement in the assassinations of nationalists [[Nawab Akbar Bugti|Akbar Bugti]] and [[Assassination of Benazir Bhutto|Benazir Bhutto]]. Furthermore, Prime Minister Sharif instructed [[Third Nawaz Sharif government|his administration]] to open an inquiry and [[Musharraf high treason case|filed a proceeding]] in Supreme Court regarding the suspension of the writ of the constitution in 2007. 

In 2014, Musharraf was declared an "[[wiktionary:absconder|absconder]]" in the Bugti and Bhutto assassination cases by virtue of moving to [[Dubai]] due to failing health.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boone |first=Jon |date=2014-02-18 |title=Pervez Musharraf makes first court appearance in treason case |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/18/pervez-musharraf-court-treason-islamabad-pakistan |access-date=2024-05-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Finally in 2019, the Special Court found Musharraf of guilty of [[2007 Pakistani state of emergency|violating the constitution]] in 2007, and upheld a verdict that sentenced him to [[Capital punishment in Pakistan|death]] [[Trial in absentia|in absentia]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-12-17 |title=Pervez Musharraf: Pakistan ex-leader sentenced to death for treason |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50819772 |access-date=2024-05-13 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Desk |first=BR Web |date=2024-01-10 |title=SC upholds Pervez Musharraf's death sentence in treason case |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40282990 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Brecorder |language=en}}</ref> Musharraf died at age 79 in Dubai in 2023 after a prolonged case of [[amyloidosis]]. His legacy is seen as mixed; his time in power saw the emergence of a more assertive middle class, but his open disregard for civilian institutions greatly weakened democracy and the state of Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Reuters |date=2023-02-05 |title=Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf passes away in Dubai |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1735449 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawn.com |date=2023-02-05 |title=Profile: Musharraf — from military strongman to forgotten man of politics |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1694796 |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==

===British India===
Musharraf was born on 11 August 1943 to an [[Urdu-speaking people|Urdu-speaking family]] in Delhi, British India<!-- DO NOT LINK, see [[MOS:GEOLINK]] for further guidance -->,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Profile: Pervez Musharraf|newspaper=BBC News|date=16 June 2009|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4797762.stm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721102000/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4797762.stm|archive-date=21 July 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="babyzarin">{{Cite news|title=India Remembers 'Baby Musharraf'|newspaper=BBC News|date=15 April 2005|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4449519.stm|access-date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511082705/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4449519.stm|archive-date=11 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="dixit">{{Cite book|author=Dixit, Jyotindra Nath|year=2002|chapter=Implications of the Kargil War|title=India-Pakistan in War & Peace|edition=2nd|location=London |publisher=Routledge|pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=XnzRttnqExUC&pg=PA28 28–35] |isbn=978-0-415-30472-6}}</ref> the son of Syed Musharrafuddin<ref name="DEH">{{cite book |last=Harmon |first=Daniel E. |date=13 October 2008 |title=Pervez Musharraf: President of Pakistan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lgJ03ubVAN0C&q=pervez+musharraf+mother+zarin&pg=PA1 |publisher=ReadHowYouWant.com |page=1 |edition=Easyread Super Large 20pt |isbn=978-1-4270-9203-8 |access-date=2 November 2020 |archive-date=5 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205133803/https://books.google.com/books?id=lgJ03ubVAN0C&q=pervez+musharraf+mother+zarin&pg=PA1 |url-status=live }}</ref> and his wife Begum Zarin Musharraf ({{c.|1920}}–2021).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://arynews.tv/en/musharrafs-mother-begum-zareen-musharraf-reaches-karachi/|title=Musharraf's mother reaches Karachi|author=Kashif, Imran|date=28 October 2014|location=Karachi|publisher=Arynews|access-date=17 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819051451/https://arynews.tv/en/musharrafs-mother-begum-zareen-musharraf-reaches-karachi/|archive-date=19 August 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="duggerbio" /><ref name="mombbc" /><ref>{{cite web| url = https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/15-Jan-2021/gen-pervez-musharraf-s-mother-dies-in-dubai| title = Gen Pervez Musharraf's mother dies in Dubai| date = 15 January 2021| access-date = 15 January 2021| archive-date = 17 August 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210817215444/https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/15-Jan-2021/gen-pervez-musharraf-s-mother-dies-in-dubai| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IVBtrZrxuDcC&q=pervez+musharraf | title=Pervez Musharraf | isbn=9781438104720 | last1=Worth | first1=Richard | last2=Kras | first2=Sara Louise | year=2007 | publisher=Infobase | access-date=5 February 2023 | archive-date=5 February 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205133805/https://books.google.com/books?id=IVBtrZrxuDcC&q=pervez+musharraf | url-status=live }}</ref> His family were Muslims who were also [[Sayyid]]s, claiming descent from the [[Prophets and messengers in Islam|Islamic prophet]] [[Muhammad]].<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> Syed Musharraf graduated from [[Aligarh Muslim University]] and entered the [[Indian Civil Service|civil service]], which was an extremely prestigious career under [[British Raj|British rule]].<ref name="ajamidog">{{Cite news|author=Ajami, Fouad|date=15 June 2011|title=Review: ''In the Line of Fire: A Memoir'' by Pervez Musharraf|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/07/books/review/ajami.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=11 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802204921/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/07/books/review/ajami.html?pagewanted=all|archive-date=2 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> He came from a long line of government officials as his great-grandfather was a tax collector while his maternal grandfather was a ''qazi'' (judge).<ref name="DEH"/> Musharraf's mother Zarin, born in the early 1920s, grew up in [[Lucknow]] and received her schooling there, after which she graduated from [[Indraprastha College]] at [[Delhi University]], taking a bachelor's degree in English literature. She then married and devoted herself to raising a family.<ref name="babyzarin" /><ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> His father, Syed, was an accountant who worked at the foreign office in the British Indian government and eventually became an accounting director.<ref name="DEH"/>

Musharraf was the second of three children, all boys. His elder brother, Javed Musharraf, based in [[Rome]], is an economist and one of the directors of the [[International Fund for Agricultural Development]].<ref name="Family">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/1999/oct/22us1.htm|title=Rediff On The NeT: My brother, the general|work=Rediff.com|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011182158/http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/oct/22us1.htm|archive-date=11 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> His younger brother, Naved Musharraf, is an anaesthesiologist based in the state of [[Illinois]], in the United States.<ref name="Family"/>

At the time of his birth, Musharraf's family lived in a large home that belonged to his father's family for many years called ''Nehar Wali Haveli'', which means "House Next to the Canal".<ref name="DEH"/> Sir [[Syed Ahmed Khan]]'s family lived next door. It is indicative of "the family's western education and social prominence" that the house's title deeds, although written entirely in Urdu, were signed by Musharraf's father in English.<ref name="haveli">{{Cite news|last=Jacob|first=Satish|title=Musharraf's Family Links to Delhi|newspaper=BBC News|date=13 July 2001|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1436723.stm|access-date=15 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325012747/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1436723.stm|archive-date=25 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Pakistan and Turkey===
Musharraf was four years old when India achieved independence and [[Partition of India|Pakistan was created]] as the homeland for India's Muslims. His family left for [[Dominion of Pakistan|Pakistan]] in August 1947, a few days before independence.<ref name="duggerbio">{{Cite news|author=Dugger, Celia W.|title=Pakistan Ruler Seen as 'Secular-Minded' Muslim|newspaper=The New York Times|date=26 October 1999|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/26/world/pakistan-ruler-seen-as-secular-minded-muslim.html|access-date=11 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911120229/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/26/world/pakistan-ruler-seen-as-secular-minded-muslim.html|archive-date=11 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="haveli" /><ref name="bbcfour">{{Cite news|title=Profile – Pervez Musharraf|newspaper= BBC 4|date=12 August 2003|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/profile/pervez-musharraf.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412102319/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/profile/pervez-musharraf.shtml|archive-date=12 April 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> His father joined the [[Pakistan Civil Services]] and began to work for the [[Government of Pakistan|Pakistani government]]; later, his father joined the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Pakistan)|Foreign Ministry]], taking up an assignment in [[Turkey]].<ref name="duggerbio"/> In his autobiography ''[[In the Line of Fire: A Memoir]]'', Musharraf elaborates on his first experience with death, after falling off a mango tree.<ref>{{cite book |last=Musharraf |first=Pervez |title=In the Line of Fire: A Memoir |year=2006 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=9780743298438 |page=34 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7igVvi3aO-8C&q=Musharraf%20mango%20tree&pg=PA34 |access-date=15 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101105835/https://books.google.com/books?id=7igVvi3aO-8C&lpg=PA33&dq=Musharraf%20mango%20tree&pg=PA34 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Musharraf's family moved to [[Ankara, Turkey|Ankara]] in 1949, when his father became part of a diplomatic deputation from Pakistan to Turkey.<ref name="ajamidog" /><ref name="CNNprofile">{{cite news |title=Pakistan's Self-appointed Democratic Leader |publisher=CNN |date=4 May 2003 |url=http://articles.cnn.com/2002-07-10/world/musharraf.biog_1_sehba-musharraf-chief-of-army-staff-indo-pakistan-war?_s=PM:asiapcf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403225221/http://articles.cnn.com/2002-07-10/world/musharraf.biog_1_sehba-musharraf-chief-of-army-staff-indo-pakistan-war?_s=PM%3Aasiapcf |archive-date=3 April 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He learned to speak [[Turkish language|Turkish]].<ref name="worth">Worth, Richard. "Time of Trials". Pervez Musharraf. New York: Chelsea House, 2007. [https://books.google.com/books?id=IVBtrZrxuDcC&pg=PA32 pp. 32–39] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101105835/https://books.google.com/books?id=IVBtrZrxuDcC&pg=PA32 |date=1 January 2016}} {{ISBN|1438104723}}</ref><ref name="chitkara">Chitkara, M. G. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=Gr5IoddTKb8C&pg=PA135 Pervez Bonaparte Musharraf] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101105835/https://books.google.com/books?id=Gr5IoddTKb8C&pg=PA135 |date=1 January 2016}}". Indo-Pak Relations: Challenges before New Millennium. New Delhi: A.P.H. Pub., 2001. pp. 135–36 {{ISBN|8176482722}}</ref> He had a dog named Whiskey that gave him a "lifelong love for dogs".<ref name="ajamidog" /> He played sports in his youth.<ref name="duggerbio" /><ref name="factbox1" /> In 1956, he left Turkey<ref name="ajamidog" /><ref name="CNNprofile" /> and returned to Pakistan in 1957<ref name="worth"/> where he attended [[Saint Patrick's High School, Karachi|Saint Patrick's School]] in Karachi and was accepted at the [[Forman Christian College University]] in Lahore.<ref name="ajamidog" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=CNN.com - General Pervez Musharraf, President and Chief Executive of Pakistan - June 28, 2001|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/south/06/20/musharraf.biog/|access-date=2024-01-10|publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref>Adil, Adnan. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3850039.stm "Profile: Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112123005/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3850039.stm |date=12 November 2012}}. BBC News (29 June 2004).</ref> At Forman, Musharraf chose mathematics as a major in which he excelled academically, but later developed an interest in economics.<ref>Musharraf Regime and Governance Crises. United States: Nova Science Publishers. p. 275. {{ISBN|1-59033-135-4}}. Retrieved 6 June 2012</ref>

==Military career==
In 1961, at the age of 18,<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> Musharraf entered the [[Pakistan Military Academy]] at [[Kakul]].<ref name="factbox1">[http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-pakistani-politics-musharraf-idUKMOL84968820080818 "FACTBOX – Facts about Pakistani Leader Pervez Musharraf"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018080905/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2008/08/18/uk-pakistani-politics-musharraf-idUKMOL84968820080818 |date=18 October 2012}}. Reuters (18 August 2008).</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Q&A on What's Happening in Pakistan |date=5 November 2007 |publisher=MSNBC |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21641531|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224043021/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/21641531/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/t/qa-whats-happening-pakistan/|archive-date=24 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> At the Academy, General Musharraf formed a deep friendship with [[General (Sri Lanka)|General]] [[Srilal Weerasooriya]], who went on to become the 15th Commander of the Sri Lankan Army. This enduring camaraderie between the two officers played a pivotal role in cultivating robust diplomatic and military ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the years that followed.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/515515/tricks-of-the-trade-from-a-sri-lankan-general-and-some-secrets | title=Tricks of the trade from a Sri Lankan general, and some secrets | date=3 March 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/991017/frontm.html|title=The Sunday Times Front Section|website=sundaytimes.lk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.themorning.lk/articles/DhoICUtzjKnARsoOdeKr | title=Profile: Pervez Musharraf the cowboy who saved us | date=25 February 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/article/16123/meeting-sri-lanka%E2%80%99s-ex-army-chief|title=Meeting Sri Lanka's ex-army chief|date=19 February 2013|website=The Express Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sangam.org/pervez-musharraf-an-adversary-of-the-eelam-state/|title=Pervez Musharraf, an Adversary of the Eelam State – Ilankai Tamil Sangam|website=sangam.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.himalmag.com/if-india-cant-pakistan-mightpakistan-india-sri-lanka/|title=IF INDIA CAN'T, PAKISTAN MIGHT|date=1 September 2000|website=Himal Southasian}}</ref>

Also during his college years at PMA and initial joint military testings, Musharraf shared a [[Dormitory|room]] with [[Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi|PQ Mehdi]] of the [[Pakistan Air Force]] and [[Abdul Aziz Mirza]] of the [[Pakistan Navy|Navy]] (both reached four-star assignments and served with Musharraf later on) and after giving the exams and entrance interviews, all three cadets went to watch a world-acclaimed Urdu film, ''[[The Day Shall Dawn|Savera]]'' ({{lit|Dawn}}), with his inter-services and college friends, Musharraf recalls, ''[[In the Line of Fire: A Memoir|In the Line of Fire]]'', published in 2006.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)">{{cite book|last=Musharraf|first=Pervez|title=In the Line of Fire: A Memoir|publisher=[[Free Press (publisher)|Free Press]]|location=Pakistan|isbn=074-3283449|pages=[https://archive.org/details/inlineoffirememo00mush/page/40 40]–60|url=https://archive.org/details/inlineoffirememo00mush|url-access=registration|edition=1|access-date=17 May 2012|date=25 September 2006}}</ref>

With his friends, Musharraf passed the standardised, physical, psychological, and officer-training exams, he also took discussions involving [[socioeconomics]] issues; all three were interviewed by joint military officers who were designated as Commandants.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> The next day, Musharraf along with PQ Mehdi and Mirza, reported to PMA and they were selected for their respective training in their arms of commission.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/>

Finally, in 1964, Musharraf graduated with a [[Bachelor's degree]] in his class of 29th PMA Long Course together with [[Ali Kuli Khan]] and his lifelong friend Abdul Aziz Mirza.<ref name="nytsoldier"/> He was commissioned in the [[Pakistan Army Regiment of Artillery|artillery regiment]] as second lieutenant and posted near the [[India-Pakistan Border|Indo-Pakistan]] border.<ref name="nytsoldier">Crossette, Barbara. [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/13/world/coup-pakistan-man-soldier-s-soldier-not-political-general-pervez-musharraf.html "Coup in Pakistan – Man in the News; A Soldier's Soldier, Not a Political General"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728104340/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/13/world/coup-pakistan-man-soldier-s-soldier-not-political-general-pervez-musharraf.html |date=28 July 2017}}. ''The New York Times'' (13 October 1999).</ref><ref name="straits"/> During this time in the artillery regiment, Musharraf maintained his close friendship and contact with Mirza through letters and telephones even in difficult times when Mirza, after joining the [[Special Service Group Navy|Navy Special Service Group]], was stationed in [[East Pakistan|East-Pakistan]].<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/>

===Indo-Pakistani conflicts (1965–1971)===
{{further|Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts}}
His first battlefield experience was with an artillery regiment during the intense fighting for the [[Khemkaran]] sector in the [[Second Kashmir War]].<ref>Schmetzer, Uli. [https://www.chicagotribune.com/1999/10/13/coup-leader-is-hawkish-toward-india/ "Coup Leader Is Hawkish Toward India"] . ''Chicago Tribune''. Battle of Asal Uttar (13 October 1999).</ref> He also participated in the [[Lahore]] and [[Sialkot]] war zones during the conflict.<ref name="chitkara"/> During the war, Musharraf developed a reputation for sticking to his post under shellfire.<ref name="bbcfour"/> He received the [[Imtiazi Sanad]] medal for gallantry.<ref name="CNNprofile" /><ref name="factbox1" />

Shortly after the end of the War of 1965, he joined the elite [[Special Service Group|Special Service Group (SSG)]].<ref name="worth"/><ref name="nytsoldier"/> He served in the SSG from 1966 to 1972.<ref name="worth"/><ref name="weaver"/> He was promoted to [[Captain (army)|captain]] and to major during this period.<ref name="worth"/> During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|1971 war]] with India, he was a [[company commander]] of an SSG [[commando]] battalion.<ref name="chitkara"/> During the 1971 war he was scheduled to depart to East Pakistan to join the [[Pakistan Armed Forces|army-navy]] joint military operations, but the deployment was cancelled after Indian Army advances towards [[Southern Pakistan]].<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/>

===Staff appointment, student officer, professorship and brigade commander (1972–1990)===
Musharraf was promoted to [[lieutenant colonel]] in 1974;<ref name="worth" /> and to [[colonel]] in 1978.<ref name="harmon">Harmon, Daniel E. "A Nation Under Military Rule". Pervez Musharraf: President of Pakistan. New York: Rosen Pub., 2008. [https://books.google.com/books?id=lgJ03ubVAN0C&pg=PA45 pp. 44–47] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101105835/https://books.google.com/books?id=lgJ03ubVAN0C&pg=PA45 |date=1 January 2016}} {{ISBN|1404219056}}</ref> As [[staff officer]] in the 1980s, he studied [[political science]] at the [[National Defence University, Islamabad|National Defence University]] (NDU), and then briefly tenured as assistant professor of [[war studies]] at the [[Pakistan Command and Staff College|Command and Staff College]] and then assistant professor of political science also at NDU.<ref name="nytsoldier" /><ref name="straits">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4k1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dxQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3934,108921&dq=musharraf+command+and+staff+college+quetta&hl=en "Pakistan's Chief Executive a Former Commando"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117041208/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4k1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dxQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3934,108921&dq=musharraf+command+and+staff+college+quetta&hl=en |date=17 November 2015}}. ''New Straits Times'' (16 October 1999).</ref><ref name="weaver" /> One of his professors at NDU was general [[Jehangir Karamat]] who served as Musharraf's guidance counsellor and instructor who had significant influence on Musharraf's philosophy and critical thinking.<ref name="Free Press 79">{{cite book |last=Musharraf |first=Pervez |title=In the Line of Fire |year=2006 |publisher=Free Press |location=Islamabad, Pakistan |isbn=0-7432-8344-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/inlineoffirememo00mush/page/79 79] |url=https://archive.org/details/inlineoffirememo00mush |url-access=registration |access-date=15 November 2015 }}</ref> He did not play any significant role in Pakistan's [[proxy war]] in the 1979–1989 [[Soviet–Afghan War|Soviet invasion of Afghanistan]].<ref name="weaver">Weaver, Mary Anne. "[https://books.google.com/books?id=9QELJpZuuswC&pg=PA25 General On Tightrope] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101105835/https://books.google.com/books?id=9QELJpZuuswC&pg=PA25 |date=1 January 2016}}". Pakistan: in the Shadow of Jihad and Afghanistan. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003. pp. 25–31 {{ISBN|0374528861}}</ref> In 1987, he became a [[brigade commander]] of a new brigade of the SSG near [[Siachen Glacier]].<ref name="dixit" /> He was personally chosen by then-President and Chief of Army Staff general Zia-ul-Haq for this assignment due to Musharraf's wide experience in [[Mountain warfare|mountain]] and [[arctic warfare]].<ref name="Pentagon Press">{{cite book |last=John |first=Wilson |title=The General and Jihad |year=2002 |publisher=Pentagon Press |location=Washington D.C. |isbn=81-8274-158-0 |page=45 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FROoqAp2QJsC&pg=PT45 |edition=1 |access-date=15 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101105835/https://books.google.com/books?id=FROoqAp2QJsC&pg=PT45 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In September 1987, Musharraf commanded an assault at [[Bilafond La]] before being pushed back.<ref name="dixit" />

He studied at the [[Royal College of Defence Studies]] (RCDS) in Britain during 1990–91.<ref name="chitkara" /> His course-mates included Major-generals B. S. Malik and [[Ashok K. Mehta|Ashok Mehta]]<ref name="Pentagon Press" /> of the Indian Army, and Ali Kuli Khan of Pakistan Army.<ref name="Pentagon Press" /> In his course studies, Musharraf performed extremely in relation to his classmates, submitted his master's degree thesis, titled "Impact of Arm Race in the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent", and earned good remarks.<ref name="Pentagon Press" /> He submitted his thesis to Commandant General [[Antony Walker]] who regarded Musharraf as one of his finest students he had seen in his entire career.<ref name="Pentagon Press" /> At one point, Walker described Musharraf: "A capable, articulate and extremely personable officer, who made a valuable impact at RCDS. His country is fortunate to have the services of a man of his undeniable quality."<ref name="Pentagon Press" /> He graduated with a master's degree from RCDS and returned to Pakistan soon after.<ref name="Pentagon Press" /> Upon returning in the 1980s, Musharraf took an interest in the emerging [[Pakistani rock]] music genre, and often listened to rock music after leaving duty.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)" /> During that decade, regarded as the time when rock music in Pakistan began, Musharraf was reportedly keen on the popular [[1980s in fashion|Western fashions of the time]], which were then very popular in government and public circles.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)" /> While in the Army he earned the nickname "Cowboy" for his westernised ways and his fashion interest in Western clothing.<ref name="weaver" /><ref name="harmon" />

===Higher commands (1991–1995)===
Earlier in 1988–89, as Brigadier, Musharraf proposed the Kargil infiltration to Prime Minister [[Benazir Bhutto]] but she rebuffed the plan.<ref name="kapur">Kapur, S. Paul. "The Covert Nuclear Period". Dangerous Deterrent: Nuclear Weapons Proliferation and Conflict in South Asia. Singapore: NUS, 2009. [https://books.google.com/books?id=bt3WMTNX5QoC&pg=PA118 pp. 117–18] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101105835/https://books.google.com/books?id=bt3WMTNX5QoC&pg=PA118 |date=1 January 2016}} {{ISBN|9971694433}}</ref> In 1991–93, he secured a two-star promotion, elevating him to the rank of major general and held the command of [[Structure of the Pakistan Army|40th Division]] as its [[General Officer Commanding|GOC]], stationed in [[Okara Cantonment|Okara Military District]] in [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab Province]].<ref name="Pentagon Press"/> In 1993–95, Major-General Musharraf worked closely with the Chief of Army Staff as Director-General of Pakistan Army's Directorate General for the Military Operations (DGMO).<ref name="harmon"/> During this time, Musharraf became close to engineering officer and director-general of ''[[ISI (Pakistan)|ISI]]'' lieutenant-general [[Javed Nasir]] and had worked with him while directing operations in [[Bosnian war]].<ref name="Pentagon Press"/><ref>Wilson John, pp209</ref> His political philosophy was influenced by Benazir Bhutto<ref name="War"/> who mentored him on various occasions, and Musharraf generally was close to Benazir Bhutto on military policy issues on India.<ref name="War"/> From 1993 to 1995, Musharraf repeatedly visited the United States as part of the delegation of Benazir Bhutto.<ref name="War">Journalist and author George Crile's book, ''[[Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History]]'' (Grove Press, New York, 2003)</ref> It was Maulana [[Fazal-ur-Rehman (politician)|Fazal-ur-Rehman]] who lobbied for his promotion to Benazir Bhutto, and subsequently getting Musharraf's promotion papers approved by Benazir Bhutto, which eventually led to his appointment in Benazir Bhutto's key staff.<ref name="Yale University Press">{{cite book |last=Hiro |first=Dilip |title=Apocalyptic realm: jihadists in South Asia |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |location=New Haven, CT |isbn=978-0300173789 |pages=200–210 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b9QqOMnCAq0C&pg=PA200 |date=17 April 2012 |access-date=15 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101105835/https://books.google.com/books?id=b9QqOMnCAq0C&pg=PA200 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1993, Musharraf personally assisted Benazir Bhutto to have a secret meeting at the [[Pakistani embassy in Washington, D.C.]], with officials from the [[Mossad]] and a special envoy of Israeli premier [[Yitzhak Rabin]].<ref name="War"/> It was during this time Musharraf built an extremely cordial relationship with Shaukat Aziz who, at that time, was serving as the [[executive president]] of global financial services of the [[Citibank]].<ref name="War"/><ref name="BBC News, Islamabad">{{cite news |last1=Morris |first1=Chris |date=18 August 2008 |title=Pervez Musharraf's mixed legacy |work=Special report published by Chris Morris BBC News, Islamabad |publisher=BBC News, Islamabad |agency=BBC News, Islamabad |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7567592.stm |url-status=live |access-date=5 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150105135550/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7567592.stm |archive-date=5 January 2015}}</ref>

After the collapse of the fractious Afghan government, Musharraf assisted General [[Naseerullah Babar|Babar]] and the [[Inter-Services Intelligence|Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)]] in devising a policy of supporting the newly formed [[Taliban]] in the [[Civil war in Afghanistan (1992–1996)|Afghan civil war]] against the [[Northern Alliance]] government.<ref name="weaver"/> On policy issues, Musharraf befriended [[List of Justices of Supreme Court of Pakistan|senior justice]] of the Supreme Court of Pakistan Justice [[Muhammad Rafiq Tarar|Rafiq Tarar]] (later president) and held common beliefs with the latter.<ref name="Pentagon Press"/>

His last military field operations posting was in the [[Mangla]] region of the [[Azad Kashmir|Kashmir Province]] in 1995 when Benazir Bhutto approved the promotion of Musharraf to three-star rank, [[Lieutenant-General]].<ref name="Pentagon Press"/> Between 1995 and 1998, Lieutenant-General Musharraf was the corps commander of [[I Corps (Pakistan)|I ''Strike'' Corps]] (CC-1) stationed in Mangla, [[Mangla Cantonment|Mangla Military District]].<ref name="nytsoldier"/>

==Four-star appointments (1998–2007)==

===Chief of Army Staff and Chairman Joint Chiefs===
[[File:PervezMusharraf.jpg|thumb|Musharraf in army uniform, {{circa|2007}}]]
There were three lieutenant-generals potentially in line to succeed General [[Jehangir Karamat]] as chief of army staff. Musharraf was third-in-line and was well regarded by the general public and the armed forces. He also had an excellent academic standing from his college and university studies.<ref name="Yale University Press"/> Musharraf was strongly favoured by the Prime Minister's colleagues: a straight officer with democratic views.<ref name="Yale University Press"/> [[Nisar Ali Khan]] and [[Shahbaz Sharif]] recommended Musharraf and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif personally promoted Musharraf to the rank of four-star general to replace Karamat.<ref name="nytsoldier"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Constable |first=Pamela |author-link=Pamela Constable |date=28 November 2007 |title=Musharraf Steps Down as Head of Pakistani Army |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/27/AR2007112702242.html |url-status=live |access-date=24 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927010739/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/27/AR2007112702242.html |archive-date=27 September 2016 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=1 May 2002 |title=Pakistan's Dubious Referendum |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/01/opinion/pakistan-s-dubious-referendum.html |url-status=live |access-date=21 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819064119/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/01/opinion/pakistan-s-dubious-referendum.html |archive-date=19 August 2017 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="BBC News, Islamabad" />

After the Kargil incident, Musharraf did not wish to be the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs:<ref name="Yale University Press"/> Musharraf favoured the chief of naval staff [[Fasih Bokhari|Admiral Bokhari]] to take on this role, and claimed that: "he did not care"<ref name="Yale University Press"/> Prime minister Sharif was displeased by this suggestion, due to the hostile nature of his relationship with the Admiral. Musharraf further exacerbated his divide with Nawaz Sharif after recommending the forced retirement of senior officers close to the Prime minister,<ref name="Yale University Press"/> including Lieutenant-General Tariq Pervez (also known by his name's initials as ''TP''), commander of [[XII Corps (Pakistan)|XII Corps]], who was a brother-in-law of a high profile cabinet minister.<ref name="Yale University Press"/> According to Musharraf, lieutenant-general TP was an ill-mannered, foul-mouthed, ill-disciplined officer who caused a great deal of dissent within the armed forces.<ref name="Yale University Press"/> Nawaz Sharif's announcement of the promotion of General Musharraf to Chairman Joint Chiefs caused an escalation of the tensions with Admiral Bokhari: upon hearing the news, he launched a strong protest against the Prime minister. The next morning, the Prime minister relieved Admiral Bokhari of his duties.<ref name="Yale University Press"/> It was during his time as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs that Musharraf began to build friendly relations with the [[United States Army]] establishment, including General [[Anthony Zinni]], [[United States Marine Corps|USMC]], General [[Tommy Franks]], General [[John Abizaid]], and [[General Colin Powell]] of the US Army, all of whom were premier four-star generals.<ref name=Putnam>{{cite book|author1=Tony Zinni|author2=Tom Clancy |author3=Tony Koltz |title=Battle ready|year=2004|publisher=Putnam|location=New York|isbn=0-399-15176-1|edition=Berkley trade pbk.}}</ref>

===Kargil Conflict===
{{Main|Kargil Conflict}}
The Pakistan Army originally conceived the Kargil plan after the [[Siachen conflict]] but the plan was rebuffed repeatedly by senior civilian and military officials.<ref name="kapur"/> Musharraf was a leading strategist behind the Kargil Conflict.<ref name="chitkara"/> From March to May 1999, he ordered secret infiltration of forces into the [[Kargil district]].<ref name="weaver"/> After India discovered the infiltration, a fierce Indian offensive nearly led to a full-scale war.<ref name="weaver"/><ref name="kapur"/> However, Sharif withdrew support for the insurgents in July because of heightened international pressure.<ref name="weaver"/> Sharif's decision antagonised the Pakistan Army and rumours of a possible coup began emerging soon afterward.<ref name="weaver"/><ref>{{Cite news|title=A Bleak Day for Pakistan|newspaper=The Guardian|date=13 October 1999|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/oct/13/pakistan.india|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824021124/http://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/oct/13/pakistan.india|archive-date=24 August 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Sharif and Musharraf dispute on who was responsible for the Kargil conflict and Pakistan's withdrawal.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Musharraf Vs. Sharif: Who's Lying?|newspaper=The Weekly Voice|date=2 October 2006|url=http://www.weeklyvoice.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1443&Itemid=66 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011135734/http://weeklyvoice.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1443&Itemid=66 |archive-date=11 October 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

This strategic operation met with great hostility in the public circles and wide scale disapproval in the [[Media of Pakistan|media]] who roundly criticised this operation.<ref>	
* {{cite news |last=Amir |first=Ayaz |url=http://www.dawn.com/weekly/ayaz/990709.htm |title=Victory in reverse: the great climbdown |date=9 July 1999 |access-date=17 February 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217075137/http://www.dawn.com/weekly/ayaz/990709.htm |archive-date=17 February 2007 |newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]}} 
* {{cite news |last=Amir |first=Ayaz |url=http://dawn.com/weekly/ayaz/990723.htm |title=For this submission what gain? |date=23 July 1999 |access-date=20 April 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070204085204/http://dawn.com/weekly/ayaz/990723.htm |archive-date=4 February 2007 |newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]}}</ref> Musharraf had severe confrontation and became involved in serious altercations with his senior officers, chief of naval staff Admiral [[Fasih Bokhari]],<ref name="Daily Times, Pakistan">{{cite news |title=Musharraf planned coup much before Oct 12: Fasih Bokhari |url=http://www.antisystemic.org/satribune/www.satribune.com/archives/oct7_13_02/DTimes_fasihoct9.htm |access-date=16 May 2012 |newspaper=Daily Times |location=Pakistan |date=9 October 2002 |quote=Former Navy chief says the general feared court martial for masterminding Kargil |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315013903/http://www.antisystemic.org/satribune/www.satribune.com/archives/oct7_13_02/DTimes_fasihoct9.htm |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> chief of air staff, [[Air Chief Marshal]] PQ Mehdi and senior [[lieutenant-general]] Ali Kuli Khan.<ref name="kuli"/> Admiral Bokhari ultimately demanded a full-fledged joint-service court martial against General Musharraf,<ref name="Daily Times, Pakistan"/> while on the other hand General Kuli Khan lambasted the war as "a disaster bigger than the East-Pakistan [[Bangladesh Liberation War|tragedy"]],<ref name="kuli">[http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1056536 Kargil was a bigger disaster than 1971] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080406092138/http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1056536 |date=6 April 2008}} – Interview of Lt Gen [[Ali Kuli Khan Khattak]].</ref> adding that the plan was "flawed in terms of its conception, tactical planning and execution" that ended in "sacrificing so many soldiers".<ref name="kuli" /><ref>{{Cite news|author=Haleem, S. A.|date=19 October 2006|title=Sweet and bitter memories (Review of ''In the Line of Fire'' by Pervez Musharraf)|newspaper=Jang|url=http://jang.com.pk/thenews/oct2006-weekly/books&people-19-10-2006/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061124225759/http://jang.com.pk/thenews/oct2006-weekly/books%26people-19-10-2006/index.html|archive-date=24 November 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> Problems with his lifelong friend, [[Chief of Air Staff (Pakistan)|chief of air staff]] air chief marshal Pervez Mehdi also arose when air chief refrained to participate or authorise any air strike to support the elements of army operations in the Kargil region.<ref name="PAF Directorate for Public Relations"/>

During the last meeting with the Prime minister, Musharraf faced grave criticism on results produced by Kargil infiltration by the principal [[Military Intelligence of Pakistan|military intelligence (MI)]] director lieutenant-general [[Jamshed Gulzar Kiani]] who maintained in the meeting: "(...) whatever has been written there is against logic. If you catch your enemy by the jugular vein he would react with full force... If you cut enemy supply lines, the only option for him will be to ensure supplies by air... (sic).. at that situation the Indian Army was unlikely to confront and it had to come up to the occasion. It is against wisdom that you dictate to the enemy to keep the war limited to a certain front...."<ref name="GEO News Network">{{cite news |last=Masood |first=Shahid |title=Former general for making an example of Musharraf |newspaper=GEO News Network |date=3 June 2008 |url=http://www.geo.tv/6-3-2008/18848.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606010200/http://www.geo.tv/6-3-2008/18848.htm |archive-date=6 June 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Nawaz Sharif has maintained that the Operation was conducted without his knowledge. However, details of the briefing he got from the military before and after the Kargil operation have become public. Before the operation, between January and March, Sharif was briefed about the operation in three separate meetings. In January, the army briefed him about the Indian troop movement along the LOC in Skardu on 29 January 1999, on 5 February at Kel, on 12 March at the GHQ, and finally on 17 May at the ISI headquarters. During the end of the June DCC meeting, a tense Sharif turned to the army chief and said "you should have told me earlier", Musharraf pulled out his notebook and repeated the dates and contents of around seven briefings he had given him since the beginning of January.<ref name="Media Monitors Network">{{Cite news|last=Zehra|first=Nasim|title=Nawaz Sharif Not A Kargil Victim|newspaper=Media Monitors Network|date=29 July 2004|url=http://usa.mediamonitors.net/Headlines/Nawaz-Sharif-Not-A-Kargil-Victim|access-date=3 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511012534/http://usa.mediamonitors.net/Headlines/Nawaz-Sharif-Not-A-Kargil-Victim|archive-date=11 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Chief Executive (1999–2002)==

===1999 coup===
{{Main|1999 Pakistani coup d'état}}
Military officials from Musharraf's Joint Staff Headquarters (JS HQ) met with regional corps commanders three times in late September in anticipation of a possible coup.<ref name="weinercoup">Weiner, Tim. [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/17/world/countdown-to-pakistan-s-coup-a-duel-of-nerves-in-the-air.html?ref=pervezmusharraf "Countdown to Pakistan's Coup: A Duel of Nerves in the Air", ''The New York Times''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306233349/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/17/world/countdown-to-pakistan-s-coup-a-duel-of-nerves-in-the-air.html?ref=pervezmusharraf |date=6 March 2016}} (17 October 1999).</ref> To quieten rumours of a fallout between Musharraf and Sharif, Sharif officially certified Musharraf's remaining two years of his term on 30 September.<ref name="weinercoup"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Neilan |first=Terence |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/01/world/world-briefing.html?pagewanted=2 |title=World Briefing |newspaper=The New York Times |date=1 October 1999 |access-date=21 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423125607/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/01/world/world-briefing.html?pagewanted=2 |archive-date=23 April 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Pentagon Press, 2007">{{cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=John |title=The General and Jihad |date=2007 |publisher=Pentagon Press, 2007 |isbn=978-0-520-24448-1 |location=Washington D.C. |chapter=General Pervez Musharraf— A Profile}}</ref><ref name="BBC Pakistan, 2008">{{cite news |last1=Dummett |first1=Mark |date=18 August 2008 |title=Pakistan's Musharraf steps down |work=Work and report completed by BBC correspondent for Pakistan Mark Dummett |publisher=BBC Pakistan, 2008 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7567451.stm |url-status=live |access-date=5 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929222334/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7567451.stm |archive-date=29 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Rashid |first1=Ahmed |title=Pakistan in the Brink |date=2012 |publisher=Allen Lane |isbn=978-1-84614-585-8 |pages=6, 21, 31, 35–38, 42, 52, 147, 165, 172, 185, 199, 205}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Syed Pervez Musharraf kon hain ? {{pipe}} Daily Jang |url=https://jang.com.pk/roman/news/6112-Syed-Pervez-Musharrafkon-hain |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826114748/https://jang.com.pk/roman/news/6112-Syed-Pervez-Musharrafkon-hain |archive-date=26 August 2019 |access-date=26 August 2019 |website=jang.com.pk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pervez Musharraf Biography President (non-U.S.), General (1943–) |url=http://www.biography.com/people/pervez-musharraf-9419281#military-service |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010095911/https://www.biography.com/people/pervez-musharraf-9419281#military-service |archive-date=10 October 2018 |access-date=21 September 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pervez Musharraf: president of Pakistan |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pervez-Musharraf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110085607/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pervez-Musharraf |archive-date=10 November 2017 |access-date=21 September 2016}}</ref>
[[File:US Navy 051015-N-8796S-072 Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf speaks during a press conference at the Pakistan Air Force base in Chaklala Pakistan.jpg|right|250px|thumb|President Gen. Pervez Musharraf speaks during a press conference at the Pakistan Air Force base in Chaklala Pakistan.]]
Musharraf left for a weekend trip to take part in [[Sri Lanka Army|Sri Lanka's Army]]'s 50th-anniversary celebrations.<ref name="timecoup">[http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2053991,00.html "Under the Gun"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018002237/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2053991,00.html |date=18 October 2011 }} ''Time'' (25 October 1999).</ref> When Pervez Musharraf was returning from his visit to [[Colombo]] his flight was denied landing permissions at Karachi International Airport on orders from the Prime Minister's office.<ref name="bbccoup"/> Upon hearing the announcement of Nawaz Sharif replacing Pervez Musharraf with [[Khwaja Ziauddin]], the third replacement of the top military commander of the country in less than two years,<ref name="bbccoup"/> local military commanders began to mobilise troops towards [[Islamabad]] from nearby [[Rawalpindi]].<ref name="timecoup"/><ref name="bbccoup">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6960670.stm "How the 1999 Pakistan Coup Unfolded"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129092848/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6960670.stm |date=29 January 2012 }}. BBC News (23 August 2007).</ref> The military placed Sharif under house arrest,<ref name="coupNYT">Dugger, Celia W. [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/13/world/coup-pakistan-overview-pakistan-army-seizes-power-hours-after-prime-minister.html?ref=pervezmusharraf "Coup in Pakistan: The Overview"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306040742/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/13/world/coup-pakistan-overview-pakistan-army-seizes-power-hours-after-prime-minister.html?ref=pervezmusharraf |date=6 March 2016 }}. ''The New York Times'' (13 October 1999)</ref> but in a last-ditch effort Sharif privately ordered Karachi air traffic controllers to redirect Musharraf's flight to India.<ref name="weinercoup"/><ref name="bbccoup"/> The plan failed after soldiers in Karachi surrounded the airport [[control tower]].<ref name="bbccoup"/><ref name="coupcomplete">Dugger, Celia W., and Raja Zulfikar. [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/15/world/pakistan-military-completes-seizure-of-all-authority.html?ref=pervezmusharraf "Pakistan Military Completes Seizure of All Authority"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812174346/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/15/world/pakistan-military-completes-seizure-of-all-authority.html?ref=pervezmusharraf |date=12 August 2017 }}. ''The New York Times'' (15 October 1999)</ref> At 2:50&nbsp;am on 13 October,<ref name="coupNYT"/> Musharraf addressed the nation with a recorded message.<ref name="bbccoup"/>

Musharraf met with President [[Rafiq Tarar]] on 13 October to deliberate on legitimising the coup.<ref>Dugger, Celia W. [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/14/world/pakistan-calm-after-coup-leading-general-gives-no-clue-about-how-he-will-rule.html?ref=pervezmusharraf "Pakistan Calm After Coup; Leading General Gives No Clue About How He Will Rule". ''The New York Times''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306045657/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/14/world/pakistan-calm-after-coup-leading-general-gives-no-clue-about-how-he-will-rule.html?ref=pervezmusharraf |date=6 March 2016 }} (14 October 1999).</ref> On 15 October, Musharraf ended emerging hopes of a quick transition to democracy after he declared a state of emergency, suspended the Constitution and assumed power as Chief Executive.<ref name="coupcomplete"/><ref>{{Cite news|last=Goldenberg|first=Suzanne|date=1999-10-16|title=Musharraf strives to soften coup image|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/oct/16/pakistan.suzannegoldenberg|access-date=2024-01-10|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He also quickly purged the government of political enemies, notably Ziauddin and national airline chief [[Shahid Khaqan Abbassi]].<ref name="coupcomplete"/> On 17 October, he gave his second national address and established a seven-member military-civilian council to govern the country.<ref>Weiner, Tim, and Steve Levine. [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/18/world/pakistani-general-forms-new-panel-to-govern-nation.html?ref=pervezmusharraf "Pakistani General Forms New Panel to Govern the Nation"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812174714/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/18/world/pakistani-general-forms-new-panel-to-govern-nation.html?ref=pervezmusharraf |date=12 August 2017 }}. ''The New York Times'' (18 October 1999).</ref><ref name="confusedcoup">Dugger, Celia W. [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/24/world/pakistan-s-new-leader-is-struggling-to-assemble-his-cabinet.html?ref=pervezmusharraf "Pakistan's New Leader Is Struggling to Assemble His Cabinet"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306205926/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/24/world/pakistan-s-new-leader-is-struggling-to-assemble-his-cabinet.html?ref=pervezmusharraf |date=6 March 2016 }}. ''The New York Times'' (23 October 1999).</ref> He named three retired military officers and a judge as provincial administrators on 21 October.<ref>Kershner, Isabel, and Mark Landler. [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/22/world/pakistan-s-leaders-appoint-regional-governors.html?ref=pervezmusharraf "Pakistan's Leaders Appoint Regional Governors"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306205547/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/22/world/pakistan-s-leaders-appoint-regional-governors.html?ref=pervezmusharraf |date=6 March 2016 }}. ''The New York Times'' (22 October 1999).</ref> Ultimately, Musharraf assumed executive powers but did not obtain the office of the Prime minister.<ref name="confusedcoup"/> The Prime minister's secretariat (official residence of Prime minister of Pakistan) was closed by the military police and its staff was fired by Musharraf immediately.<ref name="confusedcoup"/>

There were no organised protests within the country to the coup,<ref name="confusedcoup"/><ref name="ban"/> that was widely criticised by the international community.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12966786| work=BBC News| title=Pakistan profile – Timeline| date=28 November 2011| access-date=21 June 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525074748/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12966786| archive-date=25 May 2018| url-status=live}}</ref> Consequently, Pakistan was suspended from the [[Commonwealth of Nations]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/493431.stm "Pakistan 'disappoints' Commonwealth"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018195214/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/493431.stm |date=18 October 2012 }}. BBC News (29 October 1999).</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Tran|first=Mark|date=2000-05-02|title=Hold elections or face sanctions, Cook tells Zimbabwe|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/may/02/zimbabwe.marktran|access-date=2024-01-10|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Sharif was put under house arrest and later exiled to [[Saudi Arabia]] on his personal request and under a contract.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/472997.stm SOUTH ASIA | Profile: General Pervez Musharraf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820234331/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/472997.stm |date=20 August 2006 }}. BBC News (24 September 2001). Retrieved 23 January 2011.</ref>

===First days===
The senior military appointments in the inter-services were extremely important and crucial for Musharraf to keep the legitimacy and the support for his coup in the joint inter-services.<ref name="AuthorHouse TradeMark"/> Starting with the PAF, Musharraf pressured President Tarar to appoint most-junior [[air marshal]] to [[four-star rank]], particularly someone with Musharraf had experienced working during the inter-services operations.<ref name="PAF Directorate for Public Relations"/> Once Air-chief Marshal [[Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi|Pervez Kureshi]] was retired, the most junior air marshal [[Mushaf Ali Mir|Muschaf Mir]] (who worked with Musharraf in 1996 to assist [[Inter-Services Intelligence|ISI]] in Taliban matters) was appointed to four-star rank as well as elevated as Chief of Air Staff.<ref name="PAF Directorate for Public Relations">{{cite web|title=Air Chief Marshal Parvaiz Mehdi Qureshi, NI(M), S Bt|url=http://www.paffalcons.com/cas/parvaiz-mehdi.php|work=PAF Directorate for Public Relations|publisher=PAF Gallery and Press Release|access-date=16 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116074508/http://www.paffalcons.com/cas/parvaiz-mehdi.php|archive-date=16 November 2011}}</ref> There were two extremely important military appointments made by Musharraf in the Navy. Although Admiral Aziz Mirza (a lifelong friend of Musharraf, he shared a dorm with the admiral in the 1960s and they graduated together from the academy) was appointed by Prime minister Nawaz Sharif, Mirza remained extremely supportive of Musharraf's coup and was also a close friend of Musharraf since 1971 when both participated in a joint operation against the [[Indian Army]].<ref name="AuthorHouse TradeMark">{{cite book|last=Anwar|first=Muhammad|title=Stolen Stripes and Broke Medals|publisher=AuthorHouse TradeMark|location=Bloomington, Indiana (state), United States|isbn=978-1-4259-0020-5|pages=252–253;260/273|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U2IQ7bkak5wC&pg=PA252|edition=1|year=2008|access-date=15 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101105835/https://books.google.com/books?id=U2IQ7bkak5wC&pg=PA252|archive-date=1 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> After Mirza's retirement, Musharraf appointed Admiral Shahid Karimullah, with whom Musharraf had trained together in [[Special Service Group Navy|special forces]] schools during the 1960s,<ref name="AuthorHouse TradeMark"/> to four-star rank and chief of naval staff.<ref name="CNN, 2012">{{cite news |title=Former Admirals wants Musharraf to come back home. |url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/01/22/world/asia/pakistan-musharraf/index.html |date=22 January 2012 |publisher=CNN |access-date=16 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120623131911/https://articles.cnn.com/2012-01-22/asia/world_asia_pakistan-musharraf_1_zardari-and-bhutto-pakistan-s-musharraf-powerful-inter-services-intelligence-agency?_s=PM%3AASIA |archive-date=23 June 2012}}</ref>

Musharraf's first foreign visit was to Saudi Arabia on 26 October where he met with [[Fahd of Saudi Arabia|King Fahd]].<ref name="strait"/><ref name="simplevisit"/> After meeting senior Saudi royals, the next day he went to [[Medina]] and performed [[Umrah]] in [[Mecca]].<ref name="strait"/> On 28 October, he went to the [[United Arab Emirates]] before returning home.<ref name="strait">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7E1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dxQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6752,5793608&dq=musharraf+saudi+arabia&hl=en "Musharraf Holds Talks with the Saudis"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023857/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7E1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dxQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6752,5793608&dq=musharraf+saudi+arabia&hl=en |date=17 November 2015 }}. ''[[New Straits Times]]'' Malaysia (26 October 1999).</ref><ref name="simplevisit">Dugger, Celia W. [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/26/world/pakistan-military-says-7-civilians-will-join-new-government.html?ref=pervezmusharraf "Pakistan Military Says 7 Civilians Will Join New Government"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305141655/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/26/world/pakistan-military-says-7-civilians-will-join-new-government.html?ref=pervezmusharraf |date=5 March 2016 }}. ''The New York Times'' (26 October 1999).</ref>

By the end of October, Musharraf appointed many technocrats and bureaucrats in his Cabinet, including former Citibank executive Shaukat Aziz as [[Finance Minister of Pakistan|Finance Minister]] and [[Abdul Sattar (diplomat)|Abdul Sattar]] as [[Foreign Minister of Pakistan|Foreign Minister]].<ref name="burke"/><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/06/world/Pakistanis-eager-for-change-are-left-frustrated-after-coup.html?ref=pervezmusharraf | work=The New York Times | first=Celia W. | last=Dugger | title=Pakistanis, Eager for Change, Are Left Frustrated After Coup | date=6 March 2000 | access-date=11 February 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914220343/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/06/world/pakistanis-eager-for-change-are-left-frustrated-after-coup.html?ref=pervezmusharraf | archive-date=14 September 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref> In early November, he released details of his assets to the public.<ref>Kershner, Isabel, and Mark Ländler. [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/04/world/pakistan-s-ruler-rejects-calls-for-referendum.html?ref=pervezmusharraf "Pakistan's Ruler Rejects Calls for Referendum"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306213013/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/04/world/pakistan-s-ruler-rejects-calls-for-referendum.html?ref=pervezmusharraf |date=6 March 2016 }} ''The New York Times'' (4 November 1999).</ref>

In late December 1999, Musharraf dealt with his first international crisis when India accused Pakistan's involvement in the [[Indian Airlines Flight 814]] hijacking.<ref>{{Cite news | first=Jane | last=Perlez | title=Pakistanis Lost Control Of Militants, U.S. Hints | date=26 January 2000 | newspaper=The New York Times | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/26/world/Pakistanis-lost-control-of-militants-us-hints.html?ref=pervezmusharraf | access-date=11 February 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914234850/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/26/world/pakistanis-lost-control-of-militants-us-hints.html?ref=pervezmusharraf | archive-date=14 September 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Time|title=Fallout from Flight 814|date=1 January 2000|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2054784,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111018000706/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0%2C8599%2C2054784%2C00.html|archive-date=18 October 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=25 July 2011}}</ref> Though United States president [[Bill Clinton]] pressured Musharraf to ban the alleged group behind the hijacking — [[Harkat-ul-Mujahideen]],<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/25/world/us-asserts-pakistan-backed-hijacking-of-air-india-jetliner.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm | work=The New York Times | title=U.S. Asserts Pakistan Backed Hijacking of Air India Jetliner | date=25 January 2000 | first=Jane | last=Perlez | access-date=11 February 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306080207/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/25/world/us-asserts-pakistan-backed-hijacking-of-air-india-jetliner.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm | archive-date=6 March 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> Pakistani officials refused because of fears of reprisal from political parties such as [[Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan|Jamaat-e-Islami]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/26/world/Pakistanis-lost-control-of-militants-us-hints.html?ref=pervezmusharraf Pakistanis Lost Control Of Militants, U.S. Hints] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914234850/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/26/world/pakistanis-lost-control-of-militants-us-hints.html?ref=pervezmusharraf |date=14 September 2013 }}. NYTimes (26 January 2000)</ref>

In March 2000, Musharraf banned political rallies.<ref name="ban">{{Cite news|last=McCarthy|first=Rory|date=2000-04-01|title=Sharif family alone against the military|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/apr/01/pakistan.rorymccarthy|access-date=2024-01-10|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In a [[Pakistan Television|television interview]] given in 2001, Musharraf openly spoke about the negative role of a few high-ranking officers in the Pakistan Armed Forces in [[Politics of Pakistan|state's affairs]].<ref name="Pakistan Herald Megazine">{{cite news|title=Profile: Gen. (R) Mirza Aslam Beg|year=2009|newspaper=Pakistan Herald|url=http://www.pakistanherald.com/profile/gen-r-mirza-aslam-beg-602|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102141150/http://pakistanherald.com/Profile/Gen-R-Mirza-Aslam-Beg-602|archive-date=2 January 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=22 April 2014}}</ref> Musharraf labelled many of his senior professors at NDU as "pseudo-intellectuals", including the [[National Defence University, Pakistan|NDU]]'s notable professors, General [[Mirza Aslam Beg|Aslam Beg]] and Jehangir Karamat under whom Musharraf studied and served well.<ref name="Pakistan Herald Megazine"/>

===Sharif trial and exile===
The [[Pakistan Army Corps of Military Police|Military Police]] held former prime minister Sharif under house arrest at a government guesthouse<ref name="trial1"/> and opened his Lahore home to the public in late October 1999.<ref name="burke">{{Cite news|last=Burke|first=Jason|date=1999-10-29|title=Army throws open first family's palace|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/oct/29/pakistan.jasonburke|access-date=2024-01-10|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> He was formally indicted in November<ref name="trial1">Dugger, Celia W. (11 November 1999) [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/11/world/treason-charge-for-pakistan-s-ousted-premier.html?ref=pervezmusharraf "Treason Charge For Pakistan's Ousted Premier"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306180407/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/11/world/treason-charge-for-pakistan-s-ousted-premier.html?ref=pervezmusharraf |date=6 March 2016 }}. ''The New York Times''.</ref> on charges of hijacking, kidnapping, attempted murder, and treason for preventing Musharraf's flight from landing at Karachi airport on the day of the coup.<ref name="trial2">Kershner, Isabel, and Mark Landler. [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/12/opinion/pakistan-on-trial.html?ref=pervezmusharraf "Pakistan on Trial"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307031735/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/12/opinion/pakistan-on-trial.html?ref=pervezmusharraf |date=7 March 2016 }}. ''The New York Times'' (12 November 1999).</ref><ref>Kershner, Isabel, and Mark Landler. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20110201031558/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/24/opinion/justice-on-trial-in-pakistan.html Justice on Trial in Pakistan]". ''The New York Times'' (24 December 1999).</ref> His trial began in early March 2000 in an anti-terrorism court,<ref name="trial3"/> which is designed for speedy trials.<ref>Bearak, Barry (20 November 1999). [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/20/world/ousted-leader-in-pakistan-appears-in-public-for-trial.html?ref=pervezmusharraf "Ousted Leader in Pakistan Appears in Public for Trial"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306193952/http://www.nytimes.com/1999/11/20/world/ousted-leader-in-pakistan-appears-in-public-for-trial.html?ref=pervezmusharraf |date=6 March 2016 }}. ''The New York Times''.</ref> He testified Musharraf began preparations of a coup after the Kargil conflict.<ref name="trial3">Kershner, Isabel, and Mark Landler. [https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/09/world/clash-over-india-led-to-coup-pakistan-s-ex-premier-testifies.html?ref=pervezmusharraf "Clash Over India Led to Coup, Pakistan's Ex-Premier Testifies"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305095416/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/09/world/clash-over-india-led-to-coup-pakistan-s-ex-premier-testifies.html?ref=pervezmusharraf |date=5 March 2016 }}. ''The New York Times'' (9 March 2000)</ref> Sharif was placed in Adiala Jail, infamous for hosting Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's trial, and his leading defence lawyer, Iqbal Raad, was shot dead in Karachi in mid-March.<ref name="trial4"/> Sharif's defence team blamed the military for intentionally providing their lawyers with inadequate protection.<ref name="trial4">{{Cite news|last=McCarthy|first=Rory|date=2000-03-11|title=Gunmen shoot dead lawyer of deposed Pakistani leader Sharif|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2000/mar/11/pakistan.rorymccarthy|access-date=2024-01-10|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The court proceedings were widely accused of being a [[show trial]].<ref>Smith, Alex Duval. [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/cook-warning-over-show-trial-for-sharif-740015.html "Cook Warning over Show Trial for Sharif Asia, World – The Independent"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010093538/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/cook-warning-over-show-trial-for-sharif-740015.html |date=10 October 2017 }}. (12 November 1999).</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=1999-11-12|title=Cook warns against Pakistan 'show trial'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/nov/12/pakistan|access-date=2024-01-10|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>"Show Trial in Pakistan". ''The Guardian'' (22 November 1999).</ref> Sources from Pakistan claimed that Musharraf and his military government's officers were in full mood to exercise tough conditions on Sharif, and intended to send Nawaz Sharif to the [[gallows]] to face a similar fate to that of [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]] in 1979. It was the pressure on Musharraf exerted by Saudi Arabia and the United States to exile Sharif after it was confirmed that the court is about to give its verdict on Nawaz Sharif over treason charges, and the court would sentence Sharif to death. Sharif signed an agreement with Musharraf and his military government and his family was exiled to Saudi Arabia in December 2000.<ref>Ahmed Rashid. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/1377887/Pakistani-fury-as-army-lets-Sharif-fly-into-exile.html "Pakistani fury as army lets Sharif fly into exile"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102104723/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/1377887/Pakistani-fury-as-army-lets-Sharif-fly-into-exile.html |date=2 November 2019}}. ''The Telegraph'' (11 December 2000).</ref>

===Constitutional changes===
{{See also|Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan}}
Shortly after Musharraf's takeover, Musharraf issued [[The Oath of Judges Order 2000|Oath of Judges Order No. 2000]], which required judges to take a fresh oath of office.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t-AqDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA220 |title=Law, State and Inequality in Pakistan: Explaining the Rise of the Judiciary |last=Azeem |first=Muhammad |date=2 July 2017 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-981-10-3845-7 |pages=220 |language=en |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-date=5 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205133810/https://books.google.com/books?id=t-AqDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA220 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 12 May 2000, the Supreme Court asked Musharraf to hold national elections by 12 October 2002.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/pakistantraditio00mumt |url-access=registration |title=Pakistan: Tradition and Change |last1=Mumtaz |first1=Khawar |last2=Mitha |first2=Yameema |last3=Tahira |first3=Bilquis |date=2003 |publisher=Oxfam |isbn=978-0-85598-496-0 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/pakistantraditio00mumt/page/61 61] |language=en}}</ref> After President Rafiq Tarar's resignation, Musharraf formally appointed himself as President on 20 June 2001.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2HdeCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA275|title=The Shias of Pakistan: An Assertive and Beleaguered Minority|last=Rieck|first=Andreas|date=15 January 2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-061348-8|pages=275|language=en|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205133810/https://books.google.com/books?id=2HdeCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA275|url-status=live}}</ref> In August 2002, he issued the [[Legal Framework Order, 2002|Legal Framework Order No. 2002]], which added numerous amendments to the [[Constitution (Pakistan)|Constitution]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sYo0DgAAQBAJ&pg=PA181|title=The Dynamics of Judicial Independence: A Comparative Study of Courts in Malaysia and Pakistan|last=Neudorf|first=Lorne|date=22 February 2017|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-3-319-49884-3|pages=181|language=en|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205133810/https://books.google.com/books?id=sYo0DgAAQBAJ&pg=PA181|url-status=live}}</ref>

====2002 general elections====
{{Main|Shaukat Aziz#Prime minister|l1=Government of Prime minister Shaukat Aziz (2004-2007)|Pakistani general elections, 2002}}

Musharraf called for nationwide political elections in the country after accepting the ruling of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> Musharraf was the first military president to accept the rulings of the Supreme Court and holding free and fair elections in 2002, part of his vision to return democratic rule to the country.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> In October 2002, Pakistan held [[2002 Pakistani general elections|general elections]], which the pro-Musharraf [[Pakistan Muslim League (Q)|PML-Q]] won wide margins, although it had failed to gain an absolute majority. The PML-Q formed a government with far-right religious parties coalition, the [[Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal|MMA]] and the liberals [[Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan|MQM]]; the coalition legitimised Musharraf's rule.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/>

After the elections, the PML-Q nominated [[Zafarullah Khan Jamali]] for the office of prime minister, which Musharraf also approved.<ref name="Free Press 368">{{cite book|last=Musharraf|first=Pervez|title=In the Line of Fire: A Memoir|year=2006|publisher=[[Free Press (publisher)|Free Press]]|location=Pakistan|isbn=074-3283449|url=https://archive.org/details/inlineoffirememo00mush|url-access=registration|edition=1|pages=[https://archive.org/details/inlineoffirememo00mush/page/145 145]–146; 179; 234–235; 277, 368|access-date=15 November 2015}}</ref> After first session at the [[Parliament of Pakistan|Parliament]], Musharraf voluntarily transferred the powers of chief executive to Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> Musharraf succeeded to pass the [[Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan|XVII amendment]], which grants powers to dissolve the parliament, with approval required from the Supreme Court.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> Within two years, Jamali proved to be an ineffective prime minister as he forcefully implemented his policies in the country and caused problems with the business class elites. Musharraf accepted the resignation of Jamali and asked his close colleague [[Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain]] to appoint a new prime minister in place.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> Hussain nominated Finance minister Shaukat Aziz, who had been impressive due to his performance as finance minister in 1999. Musharraf regarded Aziz as his right hand and preferable choice for the office of Prime minister.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> With Aziz appointed as Prime minister, Musharraf transferred all executive powers to Aziz as he trusted Shaukat Aziz.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> Aziz proved to be extremely capable in running the government; under his leadership economic growth reached to a maximum level, which further stabilised Musharraf's presidency.<ref name="South Asia: BBC Pakistan ">{{cite news |title=Profile: Shaukat Aziz |publisher=BBC South Asia Directorate |quote=Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is a former private banker credited with recent reforms of his country's economy... British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) remarks |date=19 August 2004|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3941185.stm |format=STM |access-date=8 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810091403/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3941185.stm |archive-date=10 August 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Aziz swiftly, quietly and quickly undermined the elements seeking to undermine Musharraf, which became a factor in Musharraf's trust in him.<ref name="South Asia: BBC Pakistan "/> Between 2004 and 2007, Aziz approved many projects that did not require Musharraf's permission.<ref name="South Asia: BBC Pakistan "/>

In 2010, all constitutional changes carried out by Musharraf and Aziz's policies were reverted by the 18th Amendment, which restored the powers of the Prime Minister and reduced the role of the President to levels below that of even the pre-Musharraf era.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/window-on-pak-press/story/pak-deletes-dictators-from-constitution-71340-2010-04-09 |title=Pak deletes dictators from Constitution |last=Farzand |first=Ahmed |date=9 April 2010 |website=India Today |language=en |url-status=live |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217095909/https://www.indiatoday.in/window-on-pak-press/story/pak-deletes-dictators-from-constitution-71340-2010-04-09 |archive-date=17 December 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/09/pakistan.constitution/index.html |title=Pakistan lawmakers approve weakening of presidential powers |last=Khalid |first=Kiran |date=9 April 2010 |publisher=CNN |language=en |url-status=live |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210202449/http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/04/09/pakistan.constitution/index.html |archive-date=10 December 2019}}</ref>

He suspended the country's democratic process and imposed two states of emergency, leading to his conviction for treason. During his rule, he implemented both liberal reforms and authoritarian measures, while also forming alliances and impacting the situation in Balochistan. The legacy of Musharraf's era serves as a cautionary tale for future leaders in Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1735587|title=The Musharraf enigma|date=6 February 2023|website=Dawn|location=Pakistan|access-date=6 February 2023|archive-date=6 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206112308/https://www.dawn.com/news/1735587|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Presidency (2001–2008)==
[[File:MSShah.jpg|thumb|President Musharraf with his Military Secretary [[Shafaat Ullah Shah]] at the military parade on the 65th anniversary of [[Resolution Day]] (23 March 2005)]]
[[File:Hamid Karzai, Pervez Musharraf, Fakhruddin Ahmed - WEF Annual Meeting Davos 2008.jpg|thumbnail|left|Musharraf with [[Hamid Karzai]] and [[Fakhruddin Ahmed]] at the Annual Meeting 2008 of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland]]
{{Rquote|left|The President [Musharraf] stood clapping his hands right next to [[Junoon (band)|us]] as we sang ''[[Azadi (album)|Azadi]]'' and ''[[Jazba-e-Junoon|Jazba]]'', and moved to the beat with us. It was such a relief to "have a coolest leader" in the office...|''[[Junoon (band)|Junoon]]'', 2001|<ref name="Free Press 184">{{cite book |last=Schroeder |first=Salman Ahmad with Robert |title=Rock & roll jihad: a Muslim rock star's revolution |year=2010 |publisher=Free Press |location=New York |isbn=978-1-4165-9767-4 |page=184 |edition=1st Free Press hardcover}}</ref>}}
The presidency of Pervez Musharraf helped bring the [[Liberalism|liberal forces]] to the national level and into prominence, for the first time in the [[history of Pakistan]].<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> He granted national amnesty to the political workers of the liberal parties like Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Pakistan Muslim League (Q), and supported MQM in becoming a central player in the government. Musharraf disbanded the cultural policies of the previous Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and quickly adopted Benazir Bhutto's cultural policies after disbanding [[Indian media|Indian channels]] in the country.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/>

His cultural policies liberalised Pakistan's [[Media of Pakistan|media]], and he issued many television licences to the [[Privatization in Pakistan|private-sector]] to open television centres and media houses.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> The [[Pakistani drama|television dramas]], [[Pakistan film industry|film industry]], [[Theatre of Pakistan|theatre]], [[Music of Pakistan|music]] and literature activities, were personally encouraged by Pervez Musharraf.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> Under his policies, the rock music bands gained a following in the country and many concerts were held each week.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> His cultural policies, the film, theatre, rock and folk music, and television programs were extremely devoted to and promoted the [[Nationalism in Pakistan|national spirit]] of the country.<ref name="Free Press (publisher)"/> In 2001, Musharraf got on stage with the rock music band, [[Junoon (band)|Junoon]], and sang the national song with the band.<ref name="Washington Post, Salman Ahmad">{{cite news |author=Ahmad, Salman |title=A False Choice for Pakistan |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=19 November 2007|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/18/AR2007111800948.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904012439/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/18/AR2007111800948.html|archive-date=4 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

On political fronts, Musharraf faced fierce opposition from the ultra-conservative alliance, the MMA, led by clergyman [[Shah Ahmad Noorani|Maulana Noorani]].<ref name="Yale University Press" /> In Pakistan, Maulana Noorani was remembered as a mystic religious leader and had preached spiritual aspects of Islam all over the world as part of the [[World Islamic Mission]].<ref name="Yale University Press" /> Although the political deadlock posed by Maulana Noorani was neutralised after [[Shah Ahmad Noorani|Noorani]]'s death, Musharraf yet had to face the opposition from [[Alliance for Restoration of Democracy|ARD]] led by Benazir Bhutto of the PPP.<ref name="Yale University Press" />

On 18 September 2005, Musharraf made a speech before a broad based audience of Jewish leadership, sponsored by the [[American Jewish Congress]]'s Council for World Jewry, in New York City. He was widely criticised by Middle Eastern leaders, but was met with some praise among Jewish leadership.<ref>Barbara Ferguson [http://archive.arabnews.com/?page=4&section=0&article=70295&d=19&m=9&y=2005 Musharraf Talks to Jewish Leaders], Arab News (19 September 2005) {{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===Support for the war on terror and Afghanistan relations===
{{Main|Pakistan's role in the War on Terror}}

Musharraf allied with the United States against the [[Taliban]] in [[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)|Afghanistan]] after the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref name="Washington Post, Salman Ahmad" /> As the closest state to the Taliban government, Musharraf was in negotiations with them in the aftermath of the attacks regarding the severity of the situation<ref>{{Cite news |title=Text: Pakistan President Musharraf |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/specials/attacked/transcripts/pakistantext_091901.html |access-date=6 February 2023 |archive-date=6 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306092619/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/nation/specials/attacked/transcripts/pakistantext_091901.html |url-status=live }}</ref> before allying with the U.S. and declaring to stamp out extremism.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 December 2003 |title=Musharraf vows to root out Islamism: Banned outfits won't be allowed to resurface |newspaper=Dawn |url=http://archives.dawn.com/2003/12/05/top8.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422174213/http://www.dawn.com/news/128137/musharraf-vows-to-root-out-extremism-banned-outfits-won |archive-date=22 April 2014}}</ref> He was, however criticised by [[NATO]] and the Afghan government of not doing enough to prevent pro Taliban or [[al-Qaeda]] militants in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 March 2013 |title=Pervez Musharraf: Pakistan's military leader who was found guilty of treason |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-21861989 |access-date=6 February 2023 |archive-date=25 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225034710/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-21861989 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 October 2007 |title=The economy under Pervez Musharraf |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/271347/the-economy-under-pervez-musharraf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925020133/http://www.dawn.com/news/271347/the-economy-under-pervez-musharraf |archive-date=25 September 2016 |access-date=21 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 January 2014 |title=The myth of Musharraf's 'economic boom' needs to die |url=http://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/20584/the-myth-of-musharrafs-economic-boom-needs-to-die/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218101243/https://blogs.tribune.com.pk/story/20584/the-myth-of-musharrafs-economic-boom-needs-to-die/ |archive-date=18 February 2018 |access-date=21 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 March 2013 |title=Pakistan: Hold Musharraf Accountable for Abuses |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/03/23/pakistan-hold-musharraf-accountable-abuses |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021020143/https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/03/23/pakistan-hold-musharraf-accountable-abuses |archive-date=21 October 2016 |access-date=3 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 March 2008 |title=Labour leaders urge Musharraf to quit |url=http://www.dawn.com/news/939190/labour-leaders-urge-musharraf-to-quit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927001402/http://www.dawn.com/news/939190/labour-leaders-urge-musharraf-to-quit |archive-date=27 September 2016 |access-date=24 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="BBC News, Islamabad" />

Tensions with Afghanistan increased in 2006, with [[Hamid Karzai]], then president of Afghanistan, accusing Musharraf of failing to act against Afghan Taliban leaders in Pakistan, claiming that the Taliban leader [[Mullah Omar]] was based in Quetta, Pakistan. In response, Musharraf hit back saying "None of this is true and Karzai knows it."<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Pilkington |first1=Ed |last2=Walsh |first2=Declan |date=28 September 2006 |title=Bush referees as Karzai and Musharraf meet for dinner |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/sep/28/usa.pakistan |access-date=6 February 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=27 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127084812/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/sep/28/usa.pakistan |url-status=live }}</ref> [[George W. Bush]] encouraged the two leaders to unite in the war on terror during a trio meeting.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bush Urges Musharraf, Karzai to Unite in War on Terror |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2006-09-28-voa2/398028.html |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=VOA |date=31 October 2009 |language=en |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206053540/https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2006-09-28-voa2/398028.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Violence in the [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]] escalated in the late 2000s amid fighting between militants and Pakistani soldiers backed by the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |title=In the Line of Fire: Are Things Getting too Hot for Musharraf? |url=https://www.rusi.orghttps//www.rusi.org |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=rusi.orghttps |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Relations with India===
[[File:The Chairperson of the National Advisory Council, Smt. Sonia Gandhi calling on the President of Pakistan, General Parvez Musharraf in New Delhi on April 17, 2005.jpg|thumb|left|The Chairperson of the National Advisory Council, Smt. [[Sonia Gandhi]] calling on the President of Pakistan, General Parvez Musharraf in New Delhi on 17 April 2005]]
After the [[2001 Gujarat earthquake]], Musharraf expressed his sympathies to Indian prime minister [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] and sent a plane load of relief supplies to India.<ref>{{cite news |title=Quake may improve India Pakistan ties |date=2 February 2001 |publisher=CNN |url=http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/south/02/02/india.quake.02/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821221743/http://archives.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/south/02/02/india.quake.02 |archive-date=21 August 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=18 February 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=BBC News |title=Rival Pakistan offers India help |date=30 January 2001|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1139807.stm |access-date=22 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215054810/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1139807.stm |archive-date=15 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/20010203/ina03028.html Gujarat gets Musharraf to dial PM in New Delhi] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004045012/http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/20010203/ina03028.html |date=4 October 2012}}. Expressindia.com. Retrieved 23 January 2011.</ref>

In 2004, Musharraf began a series of talks with India to resolve the [[Kashmir dispute]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Indurthy |first1=Rathnam |last2=Haque |first2=Muhammad|year=2010|title=The Kashmir Conflict: Why It Defies Solution |journal=International Journal on World Peace |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=17–18 |issn=0742-3640 |jstor=20752914}}</ref> In 2004 a cease-fire was agreed upon along the Line of Control. Many troops still patrol the border.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rashid |first1=Ahmed |title=Pakistan in the Brink |date=2012 |publisher=Allen Lane |isbn=9781846145858 |page=52}}</ref>

===Relations with Saudi Arabia===
In 2006, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia visited Pakistan for the first time as King. Musharraf honoured King Abdullah with the ''[[Nishan-e-Pakistan]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saudiembassy.net/archive/2006/news/page855.aspx |title=King Abdullah ends Asian tour with state visit to Pakistan |publisher=Saudiembassy.net |date=1 February 2006 |access-date=30 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322232551/http://www.saudiembassy.net/archive/2006/news/page855.aspx |archive-date=22 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Musharraf received the King Abdul-Aziz Medallion in 2007.<ref name="Rasooldeen">Rasooldeen, Mohammed (22 January 2007). {{cite web |url=http://archive.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=91233&d=22&m=1&y=2007 |title=Saudi-Pak Talks Focus on ME |access-date=11 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811002310/http://archive.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=91233&d=22&m=1&y=2007 |archive-date=11 August 2011 }}. arabnews.com</ref>

===Nuclear scandals===
{{Main|Nuclear proliferation}}

[[9/11 attacks|From September 2001]] until his resignation in 2007 from the military, Musharraf's presidency was affected by scandals relating to nuclear weapons, which were detrimental to his authoritative legitimacy in the country and in the international community.<ref name="Newsweek"/> In October 2001, Musharraf authorised a sting operation led by [[Federal Investigation Agency|FIA]] to arrest two physicists [[Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood]] and [[Chaudhry Abdul Majeed]], because of their supposed connection with the [[Taliban]] after they secretly visited [[Taliban-controlled Afghanistan]] in 2000.<ref name="djinn">[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9501EEDB1E30F931A35752C1A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all Pakistani Atomic Expert, Arrested Last Week, Had Strong Pro-Taliban Views] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728084157/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/02/world/nation-challenged-nuclear-fears-pakistani-atomic-expert-arrested-last-week-had.html |date=28 July 2020 }}, ''The New York Times'', 2 November 2001.</ref> The local Pakistani media widely circulated the reports that "Mahmood had a meeting with [[Osama bin Laden]] where Bin Laden had shown interest in building a [[Radiological bomb|radiological weapon]];"<ref name="djinn"/> it was later discovered that neither scientist had any in-depth knowledge of the technology.<ref name="djinn"/><ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/02/world/nation-challenged-nuclear-fears-pakistani-atomic-expert-arrested-last-week-had.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all | work=The New York Times | title=A Nation Challenged: Nuclear Fears; Pakistani Atomic Expert, Arrested Last Week, Had Strong Pro-Taliban Views | first1=Dennis | last1=Overbye | first2=James | last2=Glanz | date=2 November 2001 | access-date=24 May 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508121114/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/02/world/nation-challenged-nuclear-fears-pakistani-atomic-expert-arrested-last-week-had.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all | archive-date=8 May 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2001, Musharraf authorised security hearings and the two scientists were taken into the custody by the [[Judge Advocate General Branch|JAG Branch]] (JAG); security hearings continued until early 2002.<ref name="djinn"/>

Another scandal arose as a consequence of disclosure by Pakistani nuclear physicist [[Abdul Qadeer Khan]]. On 27 February 2001, Musharraf spoke highly of Khan at a state dinner in Islamabad,<ref name="AQ Khan, Archives">{{cite news|last=Khan|first=Abdul Qadeer|title=Text of Musharraf's speech honoring A.Q. Khan|url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-9-136329-My-services-are-well-known|publisher=AQ Khan, Archives|access-date=18 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218002632/https://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-9-136329-My-services-are-well-known|archive-date=18 December 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> and he personally approved Khan's appointment as [[Ministry of Science and Technology (Pakistan)#Science Advisors|Science Advisor to the Government]]. In 2004, Musharraf relieved Abdul Qadeer Khan from his post and initially denied knowledge of the government's involvement in nuclear proliferation, despite Khan's claim that Musharraf was the "Big Boss" of the proliferation ring. Following this, Musharraf authorised a national security hearing, which continued until his resignation from the army in 2007. According to Zahid Malik, Musharraf and the military establishment at that time acted against Abdul Qadeer Khan in an attempt to prove the loyalty of Pakistan to the United States and Western world.<ref name="The Atlantic">{{cite news|author=William Langewiesche|title=The Wrath of Khan|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2005/11/the-wrath-of-khan/304333/|access-date=18 December 2012|newspaper=The Atlantic|date=November 2005|pages=1–10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105021831/http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2005/11/the-wrath-of-khan/304333/|archive-date=5 January 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Rashid |first1=Ahmed |title=Pakistan in the Brink |date=2012 |publisher=Allen Lane |isbn=9781846145858 |page=60}}</ref>
[[File:Mushbush.jpg|250px|thumb|right|US president George W. Bush and Musharraf address the media in Cross Hall.]]

The investigations backfired on Musharraf and public opinion turned against him.<ref name="Daily Times">{{Cite news|title=ARD condemns scientists' debriefing|newspaper=Daily Times|date=30 January 2004|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_30-1-2004_pg7_31|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070422221145/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_30-1-2004_pg7_31|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 April 2007}}</ref> The populist ARD movement, which included the major [[Pakistani political parties|political parties]] such as the [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)|PML]] and the [[Pakistan Peoples Party|PPP]], used the issue to bring down Musharraf's presidency.<ref name="Dawn Archives, 2004">{{cite news|title=ARD urged to cooperate with MMA: Requisitioning of NA session|url=http://archives.dawn.com/2004/02/20/nat6.htm|access-date=18 December 2012|newspaper=Dawn Archives, 2004|date=20 February 2004|agency=Dawn Media Group|page=1|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728084209/https://www.dawn.com/news/351580/ard-urged-to-cooperate-with-mma-requisitioning-of-na-session|url-status=live}}</ref>

The debriefing of Abdul Qadeer Khan severely damaged Musharraf's own public image and his political prestige in the country.<ref name="Dawn Archives, 2004"/> He faced bitter domestic criticism for attempting to vilify Khan, specifically from opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. In an interview to ''[[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]]'', Bhutto maintained that Khan had been a "[[scapegoat]]" in the nuclear proliferation scandal and said that she did not "believe that such a big scandal could have taken place under the nose of General Musharraf".<ref name="Daily Times, Benazir">{{Cite news|date=18 June 2004|title=Benazir points finger at MQM for Suharwardy's murder|newspaper=Daily Times, Benazir|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_18-6-2004_pg7_25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050107224442/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_18-6-2004_pg7_25|archive-date=7 January 2005|url-status=dead}}</ref> Musharraf's long-standing ally, the [[Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan|MQM]], published criticism of Musharraf over his handling of Abdul Qadeer Khan. The ARD movement and the political parties further tapped into the public anger and mass demonstrations against Musharraf. The credibility of the United States was also badly damaged;<ref name="Dawn Archives, 2004"/> the US itself refrained from pressuring Musharraf to take further action against Khan.<ref name="CNN Archives 2005">{{cite news|author=Quraishi, Ash-har|title=U.S. supports nuclear pardon|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/02/05/pakistan.nuclear/index.html|access-date=18 December 2012|newspaper=CNN Archives 2005|date=5 February 2004|publisher=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417100320/http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/02/05/pakistan.nuclear/index.html|archive-date=17 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> While Abdul Qadeer Khan remained popular in the country,<ref name="The Hindu">{{cite news|author=Nirupama Subramanian|title=The undiminished popularity of A.Q. Khan|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/25/stories/2006082504171100.htm|access-date=18 December 2012|quote=For the belief that he single-handedly made the bomb is widespread.|location=Chennai, India|date=25 August 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014021035/http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/25/stories/2006082504171100.htm|archive-date=14 October 2008|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Japan TImes">{{cite news|author=Gautam, B. |title=A.Q. Khan remains a hero in Pakistan | url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/eo20060907a1.html|access-date=18 December 2012|newspaper=The Japan Times|date=7 September 2006}}</ref> Musharraf could not withstand the [[political pressure]] and his presidency was further weakened.<ref name="Daily Times, Benazir"/> Musharraf quickly pardoned Abdul Qadeer Khan in exchange for cooperation and issued [[home confinement|confinement]] orders against Khan that limited Khan's movement.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4965566.stm | work=BBC News | first=Zaffar | last=Abbas | title=Pakistan nuclear case 'is closed' | date=2 May 2006 | access-date=5 October 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061023042833/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4965566.stm | archive-date=23 October 2006 | url-status=live }}</ref> He handed over the case of Abdul Qadeer Khan to [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|Prime minister]] Aziz who had been supportive towards Khan, personally "thanking" him: "The services of Dr. Qadeer Khan are unforgettable for the country."<ref name="Pakistan Times">{{cite news|title=Dr. Qadeer's services unforgettable, says PM Shaukat Aziz|url=http://paktribune.com/news/Dr-Qadeers-services-unforgettable-says-PM-Shaukat-Aziz-192877.html|access-date=18 December 2012|newspaper=Pakistan Times|date=26 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517112524/http://paktribune.com/news/Dr-Qadeers-services-unforgettable-says-PM-Shaukat-Aziz-192877.html|archive-date=17 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 4 July 2008, in an interview, Abdul Qadeer Khan laid the blame on President Musharraf and later on Benazir Bhutto for transferring the technology, claiming that Musharraf was aware of all the deals and he was the "Big Boss" for those deals.<ref name="KhanPointsNYT"/> Khan said that "Musharraf gave centrifuges to North Korea in a 2000 shipment supervised by the armed forces. The equipment was sent in a North Korean plane loaded under the supervision of Pakistan security officials."<ref name="KhanPointsNYT">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/05/world/asia/05pstan.html|title=Pakistani Says Army Knew Atomic Parts Were Shipped|newspaper=The New York Times|agency=Associated Press|date=5 July 2008|access-date=11 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105162427/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/05/world/asia/05pstan.html|archive-date=5 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Nuclear weapons expert [[David Albright]] of the [[Institute for Science and International Security]] agreed that Khan's activities were government-sanctioned.<ref name="ntiglobal">
The transfer of centrifuges for uranium enrichment to North Korea was almost certainly sanctioned by the government, according to Albright.
{{cite news
| url = http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20100312_1208.php
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100416170346/http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20100312_1208.php
| archive-date = 16 April 2010
| title = Nuclear Smugglers Still at Work, Expert Says
| author = Kitfield, James
| publisher = National Journal, Global Security Newswire
| date = 12 March 2010
}}</ref> After Musharraf's resignation, Abdul Qadeer Khan was released from house arrest by the executive order of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. After Musharraf left the country, the new Chairman of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee]] General [[General Tariq Majid|Tärik Majid]] terminated all further debriefings of Abdul Qadeer Khan. Few believed that Abdul Qadeer Khan acted alone and the affair risked gravely damaging the Armed Forces, which oversaw and controlled the nuclear weapons development and of which Musharraf was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff until his resignation from military service on 28 November 2007.<ref name="Newsweek">Ron Moreau and Zahid Hussain, "[https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-113539853/chain-of-command-the-military-musharraf-dodged-a Chain of Command; The Military: Musharraf dodged a bullet, but could be heading for a showdown with his Army] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217191650/https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-113539853/chain-of-command-the-military-musharraf-dodged-a |date=17 December 2019 }}", ''Newsweek'', 16 February 2004, p. 20.</ref>

===Corruption issues===
When Musharraf came to power in 1999, he promised that the corruption in the government bureaucracy would be cleaned up. However, some claimed that the level of corruption did not diminish throughout Musharraf's time.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |author=the BBC's Owen Bennett Jones |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1777889.stm |title=SOUTH ASIA {{pipe}} Musharraf's corruption crackdown 'failing' |work=BBC News |date=23 January 2002 |access-date=30 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806063504/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1777889.stm |archive-date=6 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Domestic politics===
Musharraf instituted prohibitions on foreign students' access to studying Islam within Pakistan, an effort that began as an outright ban but was later reduced to restrictions on obtaining [[Visa (document)|visas]].<ref>{{cite news |author1=Sappenfield, Mark |author2=Montero, David |name-list-style=amp |date=19 June 2007 |title=Could Pakistan fall to extremists? |newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0619/p07s01-wosc.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621183758/http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0619/p07s01-wosc.html |archive-date=21 June 2007}}</ref>

In December 2003, Musharraf made a deal with [[Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal|MMA]], a six-member coalition of hardline [[Islamist]] parties, agreeing to leave the army by 31 December 2004.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=December 2004|title=Musharraf's rule in Pakistan: Consolidation and controversy|journal=Strategic Comments|language=en|volume=10|issue=10|pages=1–2|doi=10.1080/1356788041004|s2cid=219693530|issn=1356-7888}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cAR1QiGaLPYC&q=%22Muttahida+Majlis-e-Amal%22+%22December+31,+2004%22|title=Strategic Digest|date=2005|publisher=Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.|volume=35|pages=130|language=en|issue=1–6|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205133814/https://books.google.com/books?id=cAR1QiGaLPYC&q=%22Muttahida+Majlis-e-Amal%22+%22December+31,+2004%22|url-status=live}}</ref> With that party's support, pro-Musharraf legislators were able to muster the two-thirds [[supermajority]] required to pass the Seventeenth Amendment, which retroactively legalised Musharraf's 1999 coup and many of his decrees.<ref name="The Irish Times">{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/pakistan-s-musharraf-wins-vote-of-confidence-1.964780|title=Pakistan's Musharraf wins vote of confidence|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728084158/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/pakistan-s-musharraf-wins-vote-of-confidence-1.964780|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Chhabra-2006">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UhsMAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Seventeenth+Amendment%22|title=World Focus|last=Chhabra|first=Hari Sharan|date=2006|volume=27|pages=29|language=en|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205133811/https://books.google.com/books?id=UhsMAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Seventeenth+Amendment%22|url-status=live}}</ref> Musharraf reneged on his agreement with the MMA<ref name="Chhabra-2006" /> and pro-Musharraf legislators in the Parliament passed a bill allowing Musharraf to keep both offices.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3971785.stm|title=Musharraf dual role bill passed|last=Abbas|first=Zaffar|date=1 November 2004|work=BBC News|access-date=17 December 2019|url-status=live|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217104324/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3971785.stm|archive-date=17 December 2019}}</ref>

On 1 January 2004, Musharraf had won a [[confidence vote]] in the [[Electoral College of Pakistan]], consisting of both houses of Parliament and the four provincial assemblies. Musharraf received 658 out of 1170 votes, a 56% majority, but many opposition and Islamic members of parliament walked out to protest the vote. As a result of this vote, his term was extended to 2007.<ref name="The Irish Times" />

Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali resigned on 26 June 2004, after losing the support of Musharraf's party, [[PML(Q)]]. His resignation was at least partially due to his public differences with the party chairman, [[Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain]]. This was rumoured to have happened at Musharraf's command. Jamali had been appointed with the support of Musharraf's and the pro-Musharraf PML(Q). Most PML(Q) parliamentarians formerly belonged to the Pakistan Muslim League party led by Sharif, and most ministers of the cabinet were formerly senior members of other parties, joining the PML(Q) after the elections upon being offered positions. Musharraf nominated [[Shaukat Aziz]], the minister for finance and a former employee of [[Citibank]] and head of Citibank Private Banking as the new prime minister.<ref>{{cite news |title=Musharraf's choice elected as new PM |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/musharrafs-choice-elected-as-new-pm-558039.html |work=The Independent |date=28 August 2004 |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217201625/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/musharrafs-choice-elected-as-new-pm-558039.html |archive-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2005, the [[Bugti]] clan attacked a gas field in Balochistan, after Dr. Shazia was raped at that location. Musharraf responded by dispatching 4,500 soldiers, supported by tanks and helicopters, to guard the gas field.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Walsh, Declan |title=Pakistan's gas fields blaze as rape sparks threat of civil war |newspaper=The Guardian |date=20 February 2005 |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/feb/21/pakistan.declanwalsh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529184746/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/feb/21/pakistan.declanwalsh|archive-date=29 May 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Women's rights===
[[File:Musharraf and Bush 2006-09-22.jpg|thumb|right|250px|President Musharraf is greeted by President Bush in Washington in September 2006.]]
The National Assembly voted in favour of the "[[Women's Protection Bill]]" on 15 November 2006 and the Senate approved it on 23 November 2006. President General Pervez Musharraf signed into law the "Women's Protection Bill", on 1 December 2006. The bill places rape laws under the penal code and allegedly does away with harsh conditions that previously required victims to produce four male witnesses and exposed the victims to prosecution for adultery if they were unable to prove the crime.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archives.dawn.com/2006/12/02/top7.htm |title=Musharraf signs women's bill |work=Dawn |date=2 December 2006 |access-date=30 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914193255/http://archives.dawn.com/2006/12/02/top7.htm |archive-date=14 September 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
However, the Women's Protection bill has been criticised heavily by many for paying continued lip service and failing to address the actual problem by its roots: repealing the [[Hudood Ordinances|Hudood Ordinance]]. In this context, Musharraf has also been criticised by women and human rights activists for not following up his words by action.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Zakaria, Rafia|title=Terror, tribes, and the war on women in Pakistan|year=2009|journal=Asian Conflicts Reports|volume=2009|issue=8|url=http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/CATR_AsianConflictsReports_TerrorTribesAndTheWarOnWomenInPakistan.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712231656/http://www.humansecuritygateway.com/documents/CATR_AsianConflictsReports_TerrorTribesAndTheWarOnWomenInPakistan.pdf|archive-date=12 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isn.ethz.ch/Digital-Library/Articles/Detail//?ots591=4888CAA0-B3DB-1461-98B9-E20E7B9C13D4&lng=en&id=52716 |title='Protecting' women for political gain in Pakistan |publisher=International Relations and Security Network (ISN)|location=Zurich, Switzerland|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116180012/http://www.isn.ethz.ch/Digital-Library/Articles/Detail//?ots591=4888CAA0-B3DB-1461-98B9-E20E7B9C13D4&lng=en&id=52716|archive-date=16 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said that "The so-called Women's Protection Bill is a farcical attempt at making Hudood Ordinances palatable" outlining the issues of the bill and the continued impact on women.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hrcp-web.org/pdf/Archives%20Reports/AR2006.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100319193227/http://www.hrcp-web.org/pdf/Archives%20Reports/AR2006.pdf |archive-date=19 March 2010 |title=State of Human Rights in 2006 |access-date=30 November 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

His government increased reserved seats for women in assemblies, to increase women's representation and make their presence more effective. The number of reserved seats in the National Assembly was increased from 20 to 60. In provincial assemblies, 128 seats were reserved for women. This situation has brought out increase participation of women in the 1988 and 2008 elections.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/south-asia/more-women-in-pakistan-polls-signals-political-freedom_10020351.html |title=More women in Pakistan polls signals 'political freedom' |publisher=Thaindian News |date=23 February 2008 |access-date=30 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017070020/http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/south-asia/more-women-in-pakistan-polls-signals-political-freedom_10020351.html |archive-date=17 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In March 2005, a couple of months after the rape of a Pakistani physician, Dr. Shazia Khalid, working on a government gas plant in the remote [[Balochistan (Pakistan)|Balochistan]] province, Musharraf was criticised for pronouncing Captain Hammad, a fellow military man and the accused in the case, innocent before the judicial inquiry was complete.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sherry points out loopholes in Dr Shazia's rape probe|newspaper=Daily Times |date=4 March 2005 |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_4-3-2005_pg7_32 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050430170825/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_4-3-2005_pg7_32 |archive-date=30 April 2005 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Maher |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/story/2005/02/050224_mush_media_zs.shtml |work=BBC Urdu |publisher=News |title=دعویٰ ہے کیپٹن حماد ملوث نہیں |language=ur |trans-title=Captain Hammad claims involved |access-date=30 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617072229/http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/story/2005/02/050224_mush_media_zs.shtml |archive-date=17 June 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Shazia alleged that she was forced by the government to leave the country.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Khalid, Shazia |author2=Mahmood, Zainab |author3=Maruf, Maryam |name-list-style=amp |title=Shazia Khalid and the fight for justice in Pakistan |publisher=Open Democracy Ltd. |date=25 September 2005 |url=http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-protest/pakistan_2868.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051124083618/http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-protest/pakistan_2868.jsp |archive-date=24 November 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=1 October 2010}}</ref>

In an interview given to ''[[The Washington Post]]'' in September 2005, Musharraf said that Pakistani women who had been the victims of rape treated rape as a "moneymaking concern", and were only interested in the publicity to make money and get a Canadian visa. He subsequently denied making these comments, but the ''Post'' made available an audio recording of the interview, in which Musharraf could be heard making the quoted remarks.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/audio/2005/09/23/AU2005092301253.html |title=Interview with Pakistan president Musharraf |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=23 September 2005 |access-date=30 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024134717/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/audio/2005/09/23/AU2005092301253.html |archive-date=24 October 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Musharraf also denied Mukhtaran Mai, a Pakistani rape victim, the right to travel abroad, until pressured by US State Department.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Moore|first=Kathleen|date=27 June 2005|title=Pakistan: Rape Case Spotlights Women's Rights|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1059531.html|access-date=2024-01-10|publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|language=en}}</ref> The remarks made by Musharraf sparked outrage and protests both internationally and in Pakistan by various groups i.e. women groups, activists.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4251536.stm |title=South Asia: Outrage at Musharraf rape remarks |work=BBC News |date=16 September 2005 |access-date=30 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021080243/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4251536.stm |archive-date=21 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> In a rally, held close to the presidential palace and Pakistan's parliament, hundreds of women demonstrated in Pakistan demanding Musharraf apologise for the controversial remarks about female rape victims.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4294840.stm |title=South Asia {{pipe}} Pakistani women march in rape row |work=BBC News |date=29 September 2005 |access-date=30 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511050958/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4294840.stm |archive-date=11 May 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Assassination attempts===
Musharraf survived multiple assassination attempts and alleged plots.<ref name="escape-assassination"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Musharraf Survives Assassination Attempt in Pakistan |url=https://time.com/47841/pervez-musharraf-pakistan/ |magazine=Time |date=3 April 2014 |access-date=4 July 2020 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809032652/https://time.com/47841/pervez-musharraf-pakistan/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2000 [[Kamran Atif]], an alleged member of [[Harkat-ul Mujahideen al-Alami]], tried to assassinate Musharraf. Atif was sentenced to death in 2006 by an [[Anti Terrorism Court (Pakistan)|Anti Terrorism Court]].<ref>{{cite news |title=KARACHI: Harkat man gets death sentence in murder case |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/190021/ |work=Dawn |date=30 April 2006 |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217201618/https://www.dawn.com/news/190021/ |archive-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 14 December 2003, Musharraf survived an assassination attempt when a powerful bomb went off minutes after his highly guarded [[convoy]] crossed a bridge in Rawalpindi; it was the third such attempt during his four-year rule. On 25 December 2003, two [[Suicide bombing|suicide bombers]] tried to assassinate Musharraf, but their [[car bomb]]s failed to kill him; 16 others died instead.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3351207.stm |title=South Asia {{pipe}} Arrests follow Musharraf attack |work=BBC News |date=27 December 2003 |access-date=30 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040713190304/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3351207.stm |archive-date=13 July 2004 |url-status=live }}</ref> Musharraf escaped with only a cracked windshield on his car.<ref name="escape-assassination">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/26/world/pakistani-leader-escapes-attempt-at-assassination.html|title=Pakistani Leader Escapes Attempt at Assassination|last=Masood|first=Salman|date=26 December 2003|work=The New York Times|access-date=17 December 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217112847/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/26/world/pakistani-leader-escapes-attempt-at-assassination.html|archive-date=17 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Amjad Farooqi]] was an alleged mastermind behind these attempts, and was killed by Pakistani forces in 2004 after an extensive manhunt.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/29/world/suspect-in-reporter-s-death-is-wanted-in-attacks-on-musharraf.html|title=Suspect in Reporter's Death Is Wanted in Attacks on Musharraf|last1=Masood|first1=Salman|date=29 May 2004|work=The New York Times|access-date=17 December 2019|last2=Hussain|first2=Talat|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217112851/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/29/world/suspect-in-reporter-s-death-is-wanted-in-attacks-on-musharraf.html|archive-date=17 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3692882.stm|title=Profile: Amjad Farooqi|date=27 September 2004|access-date=17 December 2019|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217112838/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3692882.stm|archive-date=17 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 6 July 2007, there was another attempted assassination, when an unknown group fired a 7.62 [[submachine gun]] at Musharraf's plane as it took off from a [[runway]] in [[Rawalpindi]]. Security also recovered two [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft guns]], from which no shots had been fired.<ref>Masood, Salman and Nizza, Mike [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/06/world/asia/06cnd-pakistan.html?hp "Gunmen Fire on Musharraf's Plane"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312022635/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/06/world/asia/06cnd-pakistan.html|date=12 March 2018 }} ''[[The New York Times]]'' 6 July 2007</ref> On 17 July 2007, Pakistani police detained 39 people in relation to the attempted assassination of Musharraf.<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jul/17pak1.htm Attack on Musharraf: 39 detained] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307123738/http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/jul/17pak1.htm |date=7 March 2008 }} rediff.com 17 July 2007</ref> The suspects were detained at an undisclosed location by a joint team of [[Punjab Police (Pakistan)|Punjab Police]], the Federal Investigation Agency and other Pakistani intelligence agencies.<ref>{{cite news|title=39 arrested for links to attack on Musharraf|newspaper=Daily Times|date=17 July 2007|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\07\17\story_17-7-2007_pg1_4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915043425/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C07%5C17%5Cstory_17-7-2007_pg1_4|archive-date=15 September 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Fall from the presidency==
By August 2007, polls showed 64 per cent of Pakistanis did not want another Musharraf term.<ref name=economist>[http://economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9622079 Pakistan: A mess in Pakistan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011222915/http://economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9622079 |date=11 October 2007 }}. The Economist. Retrieved 23 January 2011.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2006-12-17|title=Musharraf most popular leader: US survey|url=https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/musharraf-most-popular-leader-us-survey-1.154322|access-date=2024-01-10|website=Gulf News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gall |first=Carlotta |date=6 October 2007 |title=Musharraf Wins Vote, but Court Will Have Final Say |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/06/world/asia/06cnd-pakistan.html |url-status=live |access-date=21 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820035349/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/06/world/asia/06cnd-pakistan.html |archive-date=20 August 2017 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="BBC News, Islamabad" /> Controversies involving the atomic issues, [[Operation Silence|Lal Masjid incident]], the unpopular [[War in North-West Pakistan]], the [[Suspension of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry|suspension of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry]], and widely circulated criticisms from rivals Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, had brutalised the personal image of Musharraf in public and political circles. More importantly, with Shaukat Aziz departing from the office of Prime Minister, Musharraf could not have sustained his presidency any longer and dramatically fell from the presidency within a matter of eight months, after popular and mass public movements called for his [[impeachment]] for the actions taken during his presidency.<ref>{{cite news |title=Thousands Fill Streets for Protest in Pakistan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/world/asia/14pstan.html |work=The New York Times |date=14 June 2008 |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217202443/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/world/asia/14pstan.html |archive-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Musharraf quits under impeachment threat |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-35058020080818 |work=Reuters |date=18 August 2008 |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217202327/https://www.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-35058020080818 |archive-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Suspension of the Chief Justice===
{{Main|Suspension of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry}}
On 9 March 2007, Musharraf suspended Chief Justice [[Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry]] and pressed corruption charges against him. He replaced him with Acting Chief Justice Javed Iqbal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/236769|title=CJ suspended, escorted home: • Justice Iftikhar summoned by SJC on 13th for reference hearing • Ex-judges call it a blow to judiciary's independence; minister defends decision • Whither judicial activism?|last=Iqbal|first=Nasir|date=10 March 2007|website=Dawn|location=Pakistan|language=en|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217114653/https://www.dawn.com/news/236769|archive-date=17 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Musharraf's moves sparked protests among Pakistani lawyers. On 12 March 2007, lawyers started a campaign called Judicial Activism across Pakistan and began boycotting all court procedures in protest against the suspension. In Islamabad, as well as other cities such as Lahore, Karachi, and [[Quetta]] hundreds of lawyers dressed in black suits attended rallies, condemning the suspension as unconstitutional. Slowly the expressions of support for the ousted Chief Justice gathered momentum and by May, protesters and opposition parties took out huge rallies against Musharraf, and his tenure as army chief was also challenged in the courts.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Musharraf's tenure as army chief challenged|date=15 May 2007|newspaper=Dawn|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/247064/musharraf-s-tenure-as-army-chief-challenged|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422165741/http://www.dawn.com/news/247064/musharraf-s-tenure-as-army-chief-challenged|archive-date=22 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Editorial: Musharraf's political options are closing|newspaper=[[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]]|date=14 May 2007|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C05%5C14%5Cstory_14-5-2007_pg3_1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930184145/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C05%5C14%5Cstory_14-5-2007_pg3_1|archive-date=30 September 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Lal Masjid siege===
{{Main|Siege of Lal Masjid}}
The [[Lal Masjid, Islamabad|Lal Masjid]] mosque in Islamabad had a religious school for women and the Jamia Hafsa madrassa, which was attached to the mosque.<ref name="BBC News-2007">{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6503477.stm|title=Profile: Islamabad's Red Mosque|date=27 July 2007|work=BBC News|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422154636/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6503477.stm|archive-date=22 April 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> A male madrassa was only a few minutes drive away.<ref name="BBC News-2007"/>
In April 2007, the mosque administration started to encourage attacks on local video shops, alleging that they were selling porn films; and massage parlours, which were alleged to be used as brothels. These attacks were often carried out by the mosque's female students. In July 2007, a confrontation occurred when government authorities made a decision to stop the student violence and send police officers to arrest the responsible individuals and the madrassa administration.<ref name="FactBox">{{cite news |title=FACTBOX: Pakistan's Red Mosque's standoff with government |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-mosque-factbox/factbox-pakistans-red-mosques-standoff-with-government-idUSL0446561920070705 |work=Reuters |date=5 July 2007 |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217202326/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-mosque-factbox/factbox-pakistans-red-mosques-standoff-with-government-idUSL0446561920070705 |archive-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

This development led to a standoff between police forces and armed students.<ref name="redmosque">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6503477.stm | work=BBC News | title=Profile: Islamabad's Red Mosque | date=27 July 2007 | access-date=25 January 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512145852/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6503477.stm | archive-date=12 May 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref> Mosque leaders and students refused to surrender and fired at police from inside the mosque building. Both sides suffered casualties.<ref>{{cite news |title=Siege of Pakistan's Lal Masjid ends |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2007/07/2008525134739873412.html |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=11 July 2007 |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217202949/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2007/07/2008525134739873412.html |archive-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Return of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif===
On 27 July, Bhutto met for the first time with Musharraf in the UAE to discuss her return to Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gQDzCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT330|title=The Pakistan Paradox: Instability And Resilience|last=Jaffrelot|first=Christophe|date=16 June 2016|publisher=Random House India|isbn=978-81-8400-707-7|language=en|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205133810/https://books.google.com/books?id=gQDzCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT330|url-status=live}}</ref> On 14 September 2007, Deputy Information Minister Tariq Azim stated that Bhutto will not be deported, but must face corruption charges against her. He clarified Sharif's and Bhutto's right to return to Pakistan.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hf0Ur8PXuHCLiCFguRhOcyFg04mw |title=AFP: Bhutto set to announce return date to Pakistan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114034335/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hf0Ur8PXuHCLiCFguRhOcyFg04mw |archive-date=14 November 2007 |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=14 September 2007 |access-date=23 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 17 September 2007, Bhutto accused Musharraf's allies of pushing Pakistan to crisis by refusal to restore democracy and share power. Bhutto returned from eight years exile on 18 October.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/19/world/asia/19pakistan.html|title=Bomb Attack Kills Scores in Pakistan as Crowds Celebrate Bhutto's Return|last1=Gall|first1=Carlotta|date=19 October 2007|work=The New York Times|access-date=17 December 2019|last2=Masood|first2=Salman|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211012202/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/19/world/asia/19pakistan.html|archive-date=11 December 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Musharraf called for a three-day mourning period after Bhutto's assassination on 27 December 2007.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/28/world/asia/28pakistan.html|title=Bhutto Assassination Ignites Disarray|last1=Masood|first1=Salman|date=28 December 2007|work=The New York Times|access-date=17 December 2019|last2=Gall|first2=Carlotta|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217112849/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/28/world/asia/28pakistan.html|archive-date=17 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sharif returned to Pakistan in September 2007 and was immediately arrested and taken into custody at the airport. He was sent back to Saudi Arabia.<ref>Walker, Sophie. (10 September 2007) [http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-29438820070910?src=091007_1328_TOPSTORY_sharif_arrested_after_return_to_pakistan Nawaz Sharif arrested after return to Pakistan | Reuters] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071231195036/http://in.reuters.com/article/southAsiaNews/idINIndia-29438820070910?src=091007_1328_TOPSTORY_sharif_arrested_after_return_to_pakistan |date=31 December 2007 }}. In.reuters.com. Retrieved 23 January 2011.</ref> Saudi intelligence chief [[Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud]] and Lebanese politician [[Saad Hariri]] arrived separately in Islamabad on 8 September 2007, the former with a message from Saudi King Abdullah and the latter after a meeting with Nawaz Sharif in London. After meeting President General Pervez Musharraf for two-and-a-half hours discussing Nawaz Sharif's possible return.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Muqrin, Hariri urge Nawaz to honor agreement|date=9 September 2007|newspaper=Daily Times|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C09%5C09%5Cstory_9-9-2007_pg1_1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070922133858/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C09%5C09%5Cstory_9-9-2007_pg1_1 |archive-date=22 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On arrival in Saudi Arabia, Nawaz Sharif was received by Prince Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz, the Saudi intelligence chief, who had met Musharraf in Islamabad the previous day. That meeting had been followed by a rare press conference, at which he had warned that Sharif should not violate the terms of King Abdullah's agreement of staying out of politics for 10 years.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2512243.ece Nawaz Sharif vows to return home again] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080727011416/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2512243.ece |date=27 July 2008 }}, ''The Sunday Times'', 23 September 2007</ref>

=== Resignation from the Military ===
On 2 October 2007, Musharraf appointed General [[Tariq Majid]] as [[Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee|Chairman]] Joint Chiefs Committee and approved General [[Ashfaq Kayani]] as vice chief of the army starting 8 October. When Musharraf resigned from military on 28 November 2007, Kayani became Chief of Army Staff.<ref name=nytimesoctober2>[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/02/world/asia/03pakistan.html?hp Maneuvering Before Vote in Pakistan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312022636/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/02/world/asia/03pakistan.html|date=12 March 2018 }}, ''The New York Times'', 3 October 2007</ref>

===2007 presidential elections===
{{Main|2007 Pakistani presidential election}}
In a March 2007 interview, Musharraf said that he intended to stay in office for another five years.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Hasan, Khalid|title=Musharraf tells why he wants another five years|date=11 March 2007|newspaper=Daily Times|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C03%5C11%5Cstory_11-3-2007_pg7_1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322033504/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C03%5C11%5Cstory_11-3-2007_pg7_1|archive-date=22 March 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A nine-member panel of Supreme Court judges deliberated on six petitions (including Jamaat-e-Islami's, Pakistan's largest Islamic group) for disqualification of Musharraf as a presidential candidate.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-idUSSP23319420070927|title=Pakistan's Musharraf nominated for presidential vote|agency=Reuters|date=27 September 2007|work=Reuters.com|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217201624/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-idUSSP23319420070927|archive-date=17 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Bhutto stated that her party may join other opposition groups, including Sharif's.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/bhutto-hears-the-call-to-save-pakistan-1.950077|title=Bhutto hears the call to save Pakistan|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728084201/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/bhutto-hears-the-call-to-save-pakistan-1.950077|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 28 September 2007, in a 6–3 vote, Judge [[Rana Bhagwandas]]'s court removed obstacles to Musharraf's election bid.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/09/28/pakistan.politics.ap/index.html |title=Musharraf wins ruling on army role |access-date=23 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080523213628/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/09/28/pakistan.politics.ap/index.html |archive-date=23 May 2008 |location=Islamabad, Pakistan |publisher=CNN |date=28 September 2007}}</ref>

===2007 state of emergency===
{{Main|2007 Pakistani state of emergency}}
On 3 November 2007, Musharraf declared [[emergency rule]] across Pakistan.<ref name="Dawn">{{cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/04/top1.htm|title=Musharraf imposes emergency rule|date=3 November 2007|website=Dawn|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106032637/http://www.dawn.com/2007/11/04/top1.htm|archive-date=6 November 2007|access-date=17 December 2019}}</ref><ref name="CNN">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/03/pakistan.emergency/index.html|title=Martial law declared in Pakistan|date=3 November 2007|access-date=3 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071104002516/http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/03/pakistan.emergency/index.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=4 November 2007|publisher=CNN}}</ref> He suspended the [[Constitution of Pakistan|Constitution]], imposed a state of emergency, and fired the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court again.<ref name="nyt emergency">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/world/asia/04pakistan.html?_r=1&ref=asia&oref=slogin|title=Musharraf Declares Emergency Rule|newspaper=The New York Times|date=4 November 2007|access-date=3 November 2007|first=David|last=Rohde|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512201437/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/04/world/asia/04pakistan.html?_r=1&ref=asia&oref=slogin|archive-date=12 May 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> In Islamabad, troops entered the Supreme Court building, arrested the judges and kept them detained in their homes.<ref name="CNN"/> Independent and international television channels went off air.<ref name="nyt emergency" /> Public protests were mounted against Musharraf.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/274653|title=Civil society, students hold protest rallies : Emergency condemned|date=7 November 2007|website=Dawn|location=Pakistan|language=en|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217105030/https://www.dawn.com/news/274653|archive-date=17 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

===2008 general elections===
{{Main|2008 Pakistani general election}}
General elections were held on 18 February 2008, in which the [[Pakistan Peoples Party]] (PPP) polled the highest votes and won the most seats.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.app.com.pk/election/|title=APP Online Election Results|access-date=3 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619103223/http://www.app.com.pk/election/|archive-date=19 June 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geo.tv/election2008/|title=GeoTV Geo News Latest News Breaking News Pakistan Live Videos|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403042726/https://www.geo.tv/election2008/|archive-date=3 April 2013}}</ref> On 23 March 2008, President Musharraf said an "era of democracy" had begun in Pakistan and that he had put the country "on the track of development and progress". On 22 March, the PPP named former parliament speaker [[Yusuf Raza Gilani]] as its candidate for the country's next prime minister, to lead a coalition government united against him.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Haider|first1=Syed Karim|last2=Ali|first2=Sheikh Shaukat|title=Impact of Benazir Bhutto Death on Performance of PPP and Electoral Politics of Pakistan 2008–2013|url=http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/studies/PDF-FILES/Article_9_2018_07_12.pdf#page=11|journal=Pakistan Vision|volume=19|issue=1|pages=146|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217112841/http://pu.edu.pk/images/journal/studies/PDF-FILES/Article_9_2018_07_12.pdf#page=11|archive-date=17 December 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Impeachment movement===
{{Main|Movement to impeach Pervez Musharraf}}

On 7 August 2008, the Pakistan Peoples Party and the [[Pakistan Muslim League]] (N) agreed to force Musharraf to step down and begin his [[impeachment]]. [[Asif Ali Zardari]] and Nawaz Sharif announced sending a formal request or joint charge sheet that he step down, and impeach him through parliamentary process upon refusal. Musharraf refused to step down.<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article4475729.ece President Musharraf of Pakistan to be impeached] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728084210/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/ |date=28 July 2020 }}, The Times, 8 August 2008</ref> A charge-sheet had been drafted and was to be presented to parliament. It included Mr. Musharraf's first seizure of power in 1999—at the expense of Nawaz Sharif, the PML(N)'s leader, whom Mr. Musharraf imprisoned and exiled—and his second in November 2007, when he declared an emergency as a means to get re-elected as president. The charge-sheet also listed some of Mr. Musharraf's contributions to the "war on terror".<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSISL15267920080807 Pakistan coalition to move for Musharraf impeachment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111154228/http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSISL15267920080807 |date=11 January 2009 }}. Reuters. Retrieved 23 January 2011.</ref>

Musharraf delayed his departure for the Beijing Olympics, by a day.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Shah|first=Saeed|date=2008-08-07|title=Pakistan coalition to impeach Musharraf|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/aug/07/pakistan1|access-date=2024-01-10|work=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>[http://www.geo.tv/8-7-2008/22121.htm Draft of ruling coalition's joint statement finalized] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130924112902/http://www.geo.tv/8-7-2008/22121.htm |date=24 September 2013 }}. PakTribune (7 August 2008)</ref> On 11 August, the government summoned the national assembly.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hdRl1vXtvdrtSydn0bbOFIPvfU-w |title=AFP: Pakistan coalition agrees to impeach Musharraf: officials |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025110546/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hdRl1vXtvdrtSydn0bbOFIPvfU-w |archive-date=25 October 2011 |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=7 August 2008 |access-date=23 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}.</ref>

==Exile==
[[File:General Musharraf (4361533135) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Speaking at [[Chatham House]] in London in 2010]]

On 18 August 2008, Musharraf announced his resignation. On the following day, he defended his nine-year rule in an hour-long televised speech.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7567451.stm "Pakistan's Musharraf will resign"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929222334/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7567451.stm |date=29 September 2009 }}. BBC News (18 August 2008). Retrieved 9 May 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.paktribune.com/musharraf-video.shtml Video of Resignation Speech] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916142430/http://www.paktribune.com/musharraf-video.shtml |date=16 September 2008 }}. Paktribune.com (5 April 2011). Retrieved 9 May 2012.</ref> However, public opinion was largely against him by this time. A poll conducted a day after his resignation showed that 63% of Pakistanis welcomed Musharraf's decision to step down while only 15% were unhappy with it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gallup.com.pk/musharrafs-resignation/|title=Musharraf's Resignation|date=19 August 2008|website=Gallup Pakistan|access-date=2 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180403051745/http://gallup.com.pk/musharrafs-resignation/|archive-date=3 April 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> On 23 November 2008 he left for exile in London where he arrived the following day.<ref name="Musharraf-London">{{Cite news|title=Musharraf in London on week-long tour|date=24 November 2008|newspaper=Daily Times|url=http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008\11\24\story_24-11-2008_pg1_6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915050702/http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C11%5C24%5Cstory_24-11-2008_pg1_6|archive-date=15 September 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="3news.co.nz">{{Cite news |date=17 April 2013 |title=Musharraf disqualified from Pakistan election |newspaper=3 News |location=New Zealand |url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Musharraf-disqualified-from-Pakistan-election/tabid/417/articleID/294580/Default.aspx |url-status=dead |access-date=17 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417043912/http://www.3news.co.nz/Musharraf-disqualified-from-Pakistan-election/tabid/417/articleID/294580/Default.aspx |archive-date=17 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 February 2023 |title=Pervez Musharraf, former Pakistani president, dies at 79: Reports |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/former-pakistani-president-pervez-musharraf-passes-away-dies-reports-101675577034276.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205133755/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/former-pakistani-president-pervez-musharraf-passes-away-dies-reports-101675577034276.html |archive-date=5 February 2023 |access-date=5 February 2023 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author1=Sahim Salim |author2=Waheed Abbas |title=Dubai: Former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf passes away |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/world/asia/dubai-former-pakistani-president-pervez-musharraf-passes-away |access-date=5 February 2023 |website=Khaleej Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Madiha Afzal |date=19 December 2019 |title=Why Pakistan's former ruler Musharraf was sentenced to death, and what it means |url=https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2019/12/19/why-pakistans-former-ruler-musharraf-was-sentenced-to-death-and-what-it-means/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404095534/https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2019/12/19/why-pakistans-former-ruler-musharraf-was-sentenced-to-death-and-what-it-means/ |archive-date=4 April 2022 |access-date=12 May 2020 |work=Order From Chaos: Foreign Policy in a Troubled World |publisher=Brookings Institution |quote=Sharif had signaled his intent to bring high treason charges against Musharraf in June 2013, right after he came into power...and in 2013, Sharif's government brought charges of high treason against him for imposing the 2007 emergency.}}</ref>

=== Academia and lectureship ===
After his resignation, Musharraf went to perform a [[Hajj|holy pilgrimage to Mecca]]. He then went on a speaking and lectureship tour through the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. Chicago-based Embark LLC was one of the international public-relations firms trying to land Musharraf as a highly paid keynote speaker.<ref name="NewsW">{{Cite web|date=2008-08-22|title=Pakistan's Musharraf: Lucrative Speaking Fees?|url=https://www.newsweek.com/pakistans-musharraf-lucrative-speaking-fees-88033|access-date=2024-01-10|website=Newsweek|language=en}}</ref> According to Embark President David B. Wheeler, the speaking fee for Musharraf would be US$150,000–200,000 for a day plus jet and other V.I.P. arrangements on the ground.<ref name="NewsW"/> In 2011, he also lectured at the [[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]] on politics and racism where he also authored and published a paper with George Perkvich.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Musharraf|first=Pervez|title=Pervez Musharraf on U.S.-Pakistan Relations (Transcript)|date=26 October 2011|publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace|url=http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/1026carnegie-musharraf.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703224954/http://carnegieendowment.org/files/1026carnegie-musharraf.pdf|archive-date=3 July 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Party creation===
Musharraf launched his own political party, the [[All Pakistan Muslim League]], in June 2010.<ref>{{cite news |author=Ghori, Habib Khan |title=Musharraf's political party launched |newspaper=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |location=Karachi |date=9 June 2010 |url=http://news.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/local/musharrafs-political-party-launched-960 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101030171744/http://news.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/local/musharrafs-political-party-launched-960 |archive-date=30 October 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Musharraf's All Pakistan Muslim League formally launched in Sindh |newspaper=[[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]] |date=9 June 2010 |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\06\09\story_9-6-2010_pg12_2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613231132/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C06%5C09%5Cstory_9-6-2010_pg12_2 |archive-date=13 June 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nation.com.pk/09-Jun-2010/musharraf-will-be-asked-to-come-back-rashid |title=Musharraf will be asked to come back: Rashid |access-date=11 June 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610175405/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Regional/Karachi/09-Jun-2010/Musharraf-will-be-asked-to-come-back-Rashid |archive-date=10 June 2010 |newspaper=[[The Nation (Pakistani newspaper)|The Nation]] |date=9 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gardham |first=Duncan |date=1 October 2010 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8037849/Musharraf-launches-movement-to-regain-control-of-Pakistan.html |title=Musharraf launches movement to regain control of Pakistan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630024912/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/8037849/Musharraf-launches-movement-to-regain-control-of-Pakistan.html |archive-date=30 June 2019 |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=23 January 2011}}</ref>

===Legal threats and actions===
[[File:Pervez Musharraf - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting Davos 2008.jpg|thumb|left|220px|Pervez Musharraf speaking at the [[World Economic Forum|WEF]]]]
The PML-N tried to get Pervez Musharraf to stand trial under Article 6 of the Constitution for treason in relation to the emergency on 3 November 2007.<ref>[http://www.geo.tv/8-22-2009/48040.htm Musharraf's trial under Article 6 'Indispensable': Nawaz] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826131751/http://www.geo.tv/8-22-2009/48040.htm |date=26 August 2009}}. GEO.tv. Retrieved 23 January 2011.</ref> The Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousaf Raza Gilani has said a consensus resolution is required in national assembly for an article 6 trial of Pervez Musharraf<ref>{{cite news |title=Musharraf's trial only after consensus resolution: PM |newspaper=Daily Times |location=Karachi |date=20 August 2009 |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\08\20\story_20-8-2009_pg1_4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113100402/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C08%5C20%5Cstory_20-8-2009_pg1_4 |archive-date=13 January 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>"I have no love lost for Musharraf ... if parliament decides to try him, I will be with parliament. Article 6 cannot be applied to one individual ... those who supported him are today in my cabinet and some of them have also joined the PML-N ... the MMA, the MQM and the PML-Q supported him ... this is why I have said that it is not doable," said the Prime Minister while informally talking to editors and also replying to questions by journalists at an Iftar-dinner he had hosted for them.<ref>{{cite news |title=Article 6 can't just apply to one man: Gilani |newspaper=Daily Times |location=Karachi |date=17 September 2009 |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\09\17\story_17-9-2009_pg1_1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113101523/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C09%5C17%5Cstory_17-9-2009_pg1_1 |archive-date=13 January 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Although the constitution of Pakistan, Article 232 and Article 236, provides for emergencies,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Part X: "Emergency Provisions"|url=https://pakistani.org/pakistan/constitution/part10.html|access-date=2024-01-10|website=pakistani.org}}</ref> and on 15 February 2008, the ''interim'' Pakistan Supreme Court attempted to validated the Proclamation of Emergency on 3 November 2007, the Provisional Constitution Order No 1 of 2007 and the Oath of Office (Judges) Order, 2007,<ref>{{cite news |author=Goraya, M. Rafique |date=18 February 2008 |title=Supreme Court validates proclamation of emergency, PCO, follow-up actions: detailed judgement delivered |newspaper=[[Business Recorder]] |location=Karachi |url=http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=694527&currPageNo=2&query=&search=&term=&supDate= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230125003/http://brecorder.com/index.php?id=694527&currPageNo=2&query=&search=&term=&supDate= |archive-date=30 December 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=5 October 2009 }}</ref> after the Supreme Court judges were restored to the bench,<ref>{{cite journal |last=Kalhan |first=Anil |url=https://www.academia.edu/536224 |title=Constitution and 'Extraconstitution': Colonial Emergency Regimes in Postcolonial India and Pakistan |journal=Emergency Powers in Asia (Victor Ramraj & Arun Thiruvengadam, Eds.) |year=2010 |ssrn=1398545 |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728084154/https://www.academia.edu/536224/Constitution_and_Extraconstitution_Emergency_Powers_in_Postcolonial_Pakistan_and_India_in_Emergency_Powers_in_Asia_Ramraj_and_Thiruvengadam_eds._Cambridge_Univ._Press_2010_ |url-status=live }}</ref> on 31 July 2009, they ruled that Musharraf had violated the constitution when he declared emergency rule in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |author=Partlow, Joshua |date=1 August 2009 |title=Former Pakistani President's 2007 Emergency Rule Declared Unconstitutional |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/31/AR2009073101535.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422063358/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/31/AR2009073101535.html |archive-date=22 April 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Important Cases Decided by the Supreme Court (April 2009 – March 2010): ''Sindh High Court Bar Association vs. Federation of Pakistan'' (PLD 2009 SC 879) – [Proclamation of Emergency of 3rd November, 2007] |publisher=Supreme Court of Pakistan |url=http://supremecourt.gov.pk/Annual_rpt_ap09mar10/10.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626031837/http://www.supremecourt.gov.pk/Annual_rpt_ap09mar10/10.pdf |archive-date=26 June 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=16 April 2014 }}</ref>

Saudi Arabia exerted its influence to attempt to prevent treason charges, under Article 6 of the constitution, from being brought against Musharraf, citing existing agreements between the states,<ref>{{cite news |title=Saudis come to Musharraf's rescue |newspaper=Daily Times|date=2 September 2009|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\09\02\story_2-9-2009_pg1_1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905132648/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C09%5C02%5Cstory_2-9-2009_pg1_1|archive-date=5 September 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=No trial, Saudis assure Musharraf |newspaper=Daily Times |date=14 September 2009 |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\09\14\story_14-9-2009_pg1_1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113095422/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C09%5C14%5Cstory_14-9-2009_pg1_1 |archive-date=13 January 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> as well as pressuring Sharif directly.<ref>[http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/south-asia/saudi-arabias-love-for-nawaz-sharif-lost_100246455.html Saudi Arabia's 'love' for Nawaz Sharif lost?] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416010149/http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/south-asia/saudi-arabias-love-for-nawaz-sharif-lost_100246455.html |date=16 April 2010}}. Thaindian.com. Retrieved 27 September 2010.</ref> As it turned out, it was not Sharif's decision to make.<ref name="Treason-charges-brought">{{cite news |title=Court orders registration of treason charges against Musharraf |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=8 March 2011 |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Court-orders-registration-of-treason-charges-against-Musharraf/Article1-670964.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020085931/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Court-orders-registration-of-treason-charges-against-Musharraf/Article1-670964.aspx |archive-date=20 October 2011 |url-status=dead |access-date=8 March 2011 }}</ref>

Abbottabad's district and sessions judge in a [[Missing persons (Pakistan)|missing person]]'s case passed judgment asking the authorities to declare Pervez Musharraf a proclaimed offender.<ref name="Dawn court case">{{cite news |url=http://news.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/19-abbottabad-court-rules-against-musharraf-hh-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101027142145/http://news.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/19-abbottabad-court-rules-against-musharraf-hh-03 |archive-date=27 October 2010 |title=Abbottabad court rules against Musharraf |last=Javed |first=Rashid |date=31 October 2009 |newspaper=Dawn |access-date=31 October 2009}}</ref> On 11 February 2011 the Anti Terrorism Court,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Walsh|first=Declan|date=2011-02-12|title=Pakistan court issues arrest warrant against Musharraf|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/12/pakistan-issue-arrest-warrant-musharraf|access-date=2024-01-10|work=The Observer|language=en-GB|issn=0029-7712}}</ref> issued an arrest warrant for Musharraf and charged him with conspiracy to commit murder of Benazir Bhutto.<ref name="High Court annuls">{{cite news |date=13 January 2020 |title=Lahore High Court annuls Musharraf's death sentence |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/lahore-high-court-annuls-musharrafs-death-sentence/article30557948.ece |url-status=live |access-date=13 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407185013/https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/lahore-high-court-annuls-musharrafs-death-sentence/article30557948.ece |archive-date=7 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=17 December 2019 |title=Pakistan court sentences Pervez Musharraf to death for treason |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/pakistan-court-sentences-pervez-musharraf-to-death-for-treason/articleshow/72825753.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219014152/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/pakistan-court-sentences-pervez-musharraf-to-death-for-treason/articleshow/72825753.cms?from=mdr |archive-date=19 December 2019}}</ref> On 8 March 2011, the [[Sindh High Court]] registered treason charges against him.<ref name="Treason-charges-brought" /><ref name="absconder">{{cite news |date=31 August 2017 |title=Benazir Bhutto assassination case: Two senior cops sentenced to 17 years in jail, five acquitted; Pervez Musharraf declared absconder |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/pakistan/benazir-bhutto-assassination-case-verdict-pakistan-pervez-musharraf-4822298/ |url-status=live |access-date=1 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901203614/http://indianexpress.com/article/pakistan/benazir-bhutto-assassination-case-verdict-pakistan-pervez-musharraf-4822298/ |archive-date=1 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pervez Musharraf Sentenced To Death In High Treason Case: Pak Media |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/pervez-musharraf-sentenced-to-death-in-high-treason-case-news-agency-ani-quoting-pakistan-media-2150081 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217075607/https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/pervez-musharraf-sentenced-to-death-in-high-treason-case-news-agency-ani-quoting-pakistan-media-2150081 |archive-date=17 December 2019 |access-date=17 December 2019 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's fugitive ex-leader: Profile |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/pervez-musharraf-pakistan-fugitive-leader-profile-191204104433416.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217075608/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/pervez-musharraf-pakistan-fugitive-leader-profile-191204104433416.html |archive-date=17 December 2019 |access-date=17 December 2019 |publisher=Al Jazeera}}</ref>

=== Views ===

====Pakistani police commandos====
Regarding the [[2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team|Lahore attack]] on Sri Lankan cricket players, Musharraf criticised the police commandos' inability to kill any of the gunmen, saying "If this was the [[Elite Police|elite force]] I would expect them to have shot down those people who attacked them, the reaction, their training should be on a level that if anyone shoots toward the company they are guarding, in less than three seconds they should shoot the man down."<ref name="voanews1">Newhouse, Barry (5 March 2009) {{cite web |url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-05-voa13.cfm |title=Pakistan Cricket Ambush Controversy Focuses on Security |access-date=6 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307112722/http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-03-05-voa13.cfm |archive-date=7 March 2009 }}, [[Voice of America]].</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/world/pakistan/elite-force-should-have-killed-terrorists-1.56274|title=Elite force should have killed terrorists|last=Rehman Khan|first=Fasihur|date=5 March 2009|newspaper=Gulf News|access-date=7 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509072133/http://gulfnews.com/news/world/pakistan/elite-force-should-have-killed-terrorists-1.56274|archive-date=9 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Blasphemy laws====
Regarding the [[Blasphemy laws in Pakistan|blasphemy laws]], Musharraf said that Pakistan is sensitive to religious issues and that the blasphemy law should stay.<ref name="kalam1">{{cite web |title=Musharraf: Blasphemy law cannot be an excuse for murder |url=http://beta.kalam.tv/ur/video/59455/ |access-date=23 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026024841/http://beta.kalam.tv/ur/video/59455/ |archive-date=26 October 2014 }}</ref>

==Return to Pakistan==
Since the start of 2011, news had circulated that Musharraf would return to Pakistan before the 2013 general election. He himself vowed this in several interviews. On ''[[Piers Morgan Tonight]]'', Musharraf announced his plans to return to Pakistan on 23 March 2012 to seek the Presidency in 2013.<ref>{{cite news|title=Musharraf ends exile, announces return to Pakistan|url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/musharraf-ends-exile-announces-return-to-pakistan-645450.html|publisher=First Post World|access-date=23 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307144915/http://www.firstpost.com/world/musharraf-ends-exile-announces-return-to-pakistan-645450.html|archive-date=7 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Pakistani Taliban]]<ref name=threat1>{{cite news|title=Musharraf arrives back in Pakistan despite threats|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21914946|work=BBC News|access-date=24 March 2013|date=24 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324215737/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21914946|archive-date=24 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Talal Bugti]]<ref name=threat2>{{Cite news|title=Talal Bugti announces bounty on Musharraf's head|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C10%5C10%5Cstory_10-10-2010_pg1_7|newspaper=Daily Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101016064449/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C10%5C10%5Cstory_10-10-2010_pg1_7|archive-date=16 October 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> threatened to kill him should he return.<ref>{{Cite news|author1=Santana, Rebecca|author2=Khan, Jamil|name-list-style=amp|date=23 March 2013|title=Ex-Pakistani strongman vows return ahead of vote|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/pakistans-musharraf-vows-return-despite-risks|agency=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324225137/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/pakistans-musharraf-vows-return-despite-risks|archive-date=24 March 2013|url-status=dead|access-date=23 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=23 March 2013|title=Taliban threaten to assassinate Musharraf|newspaper=Eye Witness News|location=Johannesburg, South Africa|url=http://ewn.co.za/2013/03/23/Taliban-threatens-Musharraf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512071440/http://ewn.co.za/2013/03/23/Taliban-threatens-Musharraf|archive-date=12 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> On 24 March 2013, after a four-year self-imposed exile, he returned to Pakistan.<ref name=threat1 /><ref name=threat2/> He landed at [[Jinnah International Airport]], Karachi, via a chartered Emirates flight with Pakistani journalists and foreign news correspondents. Hundreds of his supporters and workers of APML greeted Musharraf upon his arrival at Karachi airport, and he delivered a short public speech.<ref>{{cite news|title=Musharraf returns to Pakistan amid death threats|url=https://news.yahoo.com/musharraf-returns-pakistan-amid-death-threats-080248691.html|publisher=Yahoo News|access-date=24 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130327045049/http://news.yahoo.com/musharraf-returns-pakistan-amid-death-threats-080248691.html|archive-date=27 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Electoral disqualification===
On 16 April 2013, three weeks after he returned to Pakistan, an electoral tribunal in [[Chitral]] declared Musharraf disqualified from contesting elections, effectively quashing his political ambitions (several other constituencies had previously rejected Musharraf's nominations).<ref>{{cite news|title=Pervez Musharraf out of Pakistan election race|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Pervez-Musharraf-out-of-Pakistan-election-race/articleshow/19577805.cms|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=16 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130422065012/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Pervez-Musharraf-out-of-Pakistan-election-race/articleshow/19577805.cms|archive-date=22 April 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> A spokesperson for Musharraf's party said the ruling was "biased" and they would appeal the decision.<ref name="3news.co.nz"/>

===Jail, house arrest and bail===
Two days later, on 18 April 2013, the [[Islamabad High Court]] ordered the arrest of Musharraf on charges relating to the 2007 arrests of judges.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22196101|title=Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf: Court orders ex-ruler's arrest|publisher=BBC|date=18 April 2013|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617133127/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22196101|archive-date=17 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Musharraf had technically been on bail since his return to the country, and the court now declared his bail ended.<ref name="ALJ-20130419">{{cite news | url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2013/04/2013419425176901.html | title=Pakistan police arrest ex-President Musharraf | publisher=Al Jazeera | date=19 April 2013 | access-date=19 April 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419153645/http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2013/04/2013419425176901.html | archive-date=19 April 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref> Musharraf escaped from court with the aid of his security personnel, and went to his farm-house mansion.<ref name="Musharraf escapes from court">{{cite news|title=Musharraf on the run after bail cancellation|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/803426/judges-detention-case-musharraf-arrives-in-ihc|access-date=18 February 2014|newspaper=DAWN|date=18 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222031738/http://www.dawn.com/news/803426/judges-detention-case-musharraf-arrives-in-ihc|archive-date=22 February 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> The following day, Musharraf was placed under house arrest<ref>{{Cite news|author1=Mullen, Jethro |author2=Robertson, Nic |author3=Smith-Spark, Laura  |name-list-style=amp |title=In Pakistan, Musharraf placed under house arrest|publisher=CNN|date=18 April 2013|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/world/asia/pakistan-politics/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418165008/http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/world/asia/pakistan-politics/index.html|archive-date=18 April 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> but was later transferred to police headquarters in Islamabad.<ref name="BBC-19042013-1">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22211766 |title=Pakistani police arrest Pervez Musharraf in Islamabad |work=BBC News |date=19 April 2013 |access-date=19 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419161912/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22211766 |archive-date=19 April 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Musharraf characterised his arrest as "politically motivated"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/former-pakistan-president-pervez-musharraf-arrested-356092?pfrom=home-lateststories |title=Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf arrested |agency=Press Trust of India |date=19 April 2013 |work=NDTV.com |access-date=19 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419060503/http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/former-pakistan-president-pervez-musharraf-arrested-356092?pfrom=home-lateststories |archive-date=19 April 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Leiby |first=Richard |title=Musharraf arrest tempts clash of powers|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=19 April 2013 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/musharraf-arrest-tempts-clash-of-powers/2013/04/19/6b1e78c6-a8dc-11e2-9e1c-bb0fb0c2edd9_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805125010/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/musharraf-arrest-tempts-clash-of-powers/2013/04/19/6b1e78c6-a8dc-11e2-9e1c-bb0fb0c2edd9_story.html|archive-date=5 August 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> and his legal team has declared their intention to fight the charges in the Supreme Court.<ref name="BBC-19042013-1" /> Further to the charges of this arrest, the [[Senate of Pakistan|Senate]] also passed a resolution petitioning that Musharraf be charged with [[high treason]] in relation to the events of 2007.<ref name="BBC-19042013-1" />

On Friday, 26 April 2013, a week after one court had voided his bail and caused his arrest in the "arrest of judges" case, another court ordered house arrest for Musharraf in connection with the death of [[Benazir Bhutto]].<ref name="House arrest BBC">{{cite news|title=Musharraf remanded over Benazir Bhutto case|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22305891|access-date=28 April 2013|newspaper=BBC News Asia|date=26 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428062154/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22305891|archive-date=28 April 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> On 20 May, a Pakistani court granted bail to Musharraf.<ref>{{cite news|title=Former Pakistani dictator Musharraf granted bail|work=Reuters|date=20 May 2013|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-musharraf-idUSBRE94J08Y20130520|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521011703/https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/20/us-pakistan-musharraf-idUSBRE94J08Y20130520|archive-date=21 May 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> On 12 June 2014 [[Sindh High Court]] allowed him to travel to seek medical attention abroad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pakistan court allows Pervez Musharraf to leave the country|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/06/pakistan-court-allows-pervez-musharraf-to-leave-the-country/|agency=Indo-Asian News Service|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|access-date=12 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140616003619/http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/06/pakistan-court-allows-pervez-musharraf-to-leave-the-country/|archive-date=16 June 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="MW1"/>

===Fourth assassination attempt===
On 3 April 2014, Musharraf escaped the fourth assassination attempt, resulting in an injury of a woman, according to Pakistani news.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pervez Musharraf escapes 'assassination' bomb attempt|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/10741118/Pervez-Musharraf-escapes-assassination-bomb-attempt.html|date=3 April 2014|work=The Telegraph|first=Faizan|last=Fiaz|access-date=8 April 2014|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404212258/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/10741118/Pervez-Musharraf-escapes-assassination-bomb-attempt.html|archive-date=4 April 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Judicial hearings and return to exile ==
{{main|Musharraf high treason case}}
On 25 June 2013, Musharraf was named as prime suspect in two separate cases. The first case was subverting and suspending the constitution, and the second was a [[Federal Investigation Agency]] probe into the conspiracy to assassinate Bhutto.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.nation.com.pk/26-Jun-2013/musharraf-conspired-to-kill-benazir |title= Musharraf 'conspired' to kill Benazir |last1=Ahmed |first1=Israr |date= 26 June 2013 |work=The Nation |access-date= 3 August 2013 |url-status= live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130627031401/http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/national/26-Jun-2013/musharraf-conspired-to-kill-benazir |archive-date=27 June 2013|last2= Sigamony |first2=Terence J.}}</ref> Musharraf was indicted on 20 August 2013 for Bhutto's assassination in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |title = Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf charged in Benazir Bhutto's death |publisher = Fox News |date=20 August 2013 |url = https://www.foxnews.com/world/pakistans-pervez-musharraf-charged-in-death-of-former-leader-bhutto |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140402185504/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/08/20/pakistan-pervez-musharraf-charged-in-benazir-bhutto-death/ |archive-date=2 April 2014|url-status= live}}</ref> On 2 September 2013, a [[first information report]] (FIR) was registered against him for his role in the [[Lal Masjid Operation]] in 2007. The FIR was lodged after the son of slain hard line cleric [[Abdul Rashid Ghazi|Abdul Rahid Ghazi]] (who was killed during the operation) asked authorities to bring charges against Musharraf.<ref>{{cite news |title= Pakistani police investigate Musharraf in mosque raid |date=2 September 2013 |newspaper=The Boston Globe |url = https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2013/09/02/pakistani-police-investigate-musharraf-mosque-raid/mclTe25pC43rwpR4SIKj7O/story.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141217183804/http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/world/2013/09/02/pakistani-police-investigate-musharraf-mosque-raid/mclTe25pC43rwpR4SIKj7O/story.html |archive-date= 17 December 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Ghazi murder case: Musharraf submits surety for bail |date= 6 November 2013 |newspaper=The Nation |location=Karachi |url = http://www.nation.com.pk/islamabad/06-Nov-2013/ghazi-murder-case-musharraf-submits-surety-for-bail |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131220105628/http://www.nation.com.pk/islamabad/06-Nov-2013/ghazi-murder-case-musharraf-submits-surety-for-bail |archive-date= 20 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 18 March 2016, Musharraf's name was removed from the [[Exit Control List]] and he was allowed to travel abroad, citing medical treatment. He subsequently lived in [[Dubai]] in self-imposed exile.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1246671|title=Musharraf meets well-wishers at his Dubai residence|work=Dawn|first=Imran|last=Ayub|date=19 March 2016|access-date=28 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301011057/https://www.dawn.com/news/1246671|archive-date=1 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1068002/pervez-musharraf-departs-for-dubai/ |title=Musharraf departs for Dubai after travel ban lifted |date=18 March 2016 |access-date=28 February 2017 |work=The Express Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301092832/https://tribune.com.pk/story/1068002/pervez-musharraf-departs-for-dubai/ |archive-date=1 March 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Musharraf vowed to return to Pakistan, but he never did.<ref name=NYTAnnul>Salman Masood, [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/13/world/asia/pervez-musharraf-pakistan-death-sentence.html Death Sentence Overturned for Pervez Musharraf, Ex-Leader of Pakistan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113192552/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/13/world/asia/pervez-musharraf-pakistan-death-sentence.html |date=13 January 2020 }}, ''New York Times'' (13 January 2020).</ref> It was first disclosed in October 2018 that Musharraf was suffering from [[amyloidosis]], a [[Rare disease|rare]] and serious illness for which he has undergone treatment in hospitals in London and Dubai; an official with Musharraf's political party said that Musharraf would return to Pakistan after he made a full recovery.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1470223 |title=Musharraf shifted to Dubai hospital after 'reaction' from rare disease |last=Hussain |first=Javed |date=17 March 2019 |work=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |language=en |access-date=17 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190317210514/https://www.dawn.com/news/1470223 |archive-date=17 March 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2017, Musharraf appeared as a political analyst on his weekly television show ''Sab Se Pehle Pakistan with President Musharraf'', hosted by [[BOL News]].<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.dawn.com/news/1317329|title= Pervez Musharraf launches career as TV analyst|work= Dawn|date= 27 February 2017|access-date= 20 March 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170320175056/https://www.dawn.com/news/1317329|archive-date= 20 March 2017|url-status= live}}</ref>

On 31 August 2017, the [[Anti Terrorism Court of Pakistan|anti-terrorism court]] in [[Rawalpindi]] declared him an "[[Fugitive|absconder]]" in Bhutto's murder case. The court also ordered that his property and bank account in Pakistan be seized.<ref name="absconder" /><ref>{{in lang|vi}} [https://www.nguoi-viet.com/the-gioi/toa-pakistan-truy-lung-cuu-thu-tuong-trong-vu-sat-doi-thu-chinh-tri/ Pakistan truy lùng cựu thủ tướng ám sát đối thủ chính trị] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907080522/https://www.nguoi-viet.com/the-gioi/toa-pakistan-truy-lung-cuu-thu-tuong-trong-vu-sat-doi-thu-chinh-tri/ |date=7 September 2017 }}. Retrieved 7 September 2017</ref><ref>[https://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/31/asia/pakistan-benazir-bhutto/index.html Former Pakistan leader Musharraf declared fugitive in Bhutto murder case] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902051457/http://edition.cnn.com/2017/08/31/asia/pakistan-benazir-bhutto/index.html |date=2 September 2017 }}, CNN</ref>

===Verdict===
On 17 December 2019, a special court declared him a traitor and sentenced him ''[[Trial in absentia|in absentia]]'' to death for abrogating and suspending the constitution in [[Pakistani state of emergency, 2007|November 2007]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/17/pakistan-sentences-musharraf-to-death-for-high-treason |title= Pervez Musharraf: Pakistan sentences former ruler to death for high treason |last= Ellis-Petersen |first= Hannah |date= 17 December 2019 |newspaper= The Guardian |access-date= 17 December 2019 |language= en-GB |issn= 0261-3077 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191217083837/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/17/pakistan-sentences-musharraf-to-death-for-high-treason |archive-date= 17 December 2019 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/17/asia/pervez-musharraf-death-sentence-pakistan-intl-hnk/index.html |title=Former Pakistan military ruler sentenced to death for high treason |publisher=CNN |date=17 December 2019 |language=en-US |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217110805/https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/17/asia/pervez-musharraf-death-sentence-pakistan-intl-hnk/index.html |archive-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-law-musharraf-idUSKBN1YL0MJ |title= Pakistan court sentences former military ruler Musharraf to death for treason |last1= Shahzad |first1= Asif |date= 17 December 2019 |work= Reuters |access-date= 17 December 2019 |url-status= live |last2= Jain |first2= Rupam |editor-last= Birsel |editor-first= Robert |language= en-GB |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191217081602/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-law-musharraf-idUSKBN1YL0MJ |archive-date= 17 December 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50819772 |title=Pakistan ex-leader Musharraf sentenced to death |date=17 December 2019 |access-date=17 December 2019 |language=en-GB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217081204/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50819772 |archive-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/pakistan-ruler-musharraf-handed-death-penalty-treason-case-191217071817884.html |title=Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf handed death penalty in treason case |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217081559/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/pakistan-ruler-musharraf-handed-death-penalty-treason-case-191217071817884.html |archive-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> The three-member panel of the special court which issued the order was spearheaded by Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court [[Waqar Ahmed Seth]].<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/pervez-musharraf-death-penalty-pakistan-treason-news-1628954-2019-12-17 |title = Pervez Musharraf gets death penalty for imposing emergency in Pakistan |website = India Today |date = 17 December 2019 |access-date = 17 December 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191217095819/https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/pervez-musharraf-death-penalty-pakistan-treason-news-1628954-2019-12-17 |archive-date = 17 December 2019 |url-status = live }}</ref> He was the first Pakistani Army General to be sentenced to death.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/conviction-pakistan-pervez-musharraf-191217151354480.html |title = After conviction, what next for Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf? |publisher = Al Jazeera |access-date = 17 December 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191217170330/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/conviction-pakistan-pervez-musharraf-191217151354480.html |archive-date = 17 December 2019 |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/the-implications-of-pervez-musharrafs-death-sentence-for-civil-military-relations-in-pakistan-the-hindu-analysis-podcast/article30331387.ece |title=The implications of Pervez Musharraf's death sentence for civil-military relations in Pakistan|last=Sriram |first=Jayant |date=17 December 2019 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=17 December 2019 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217170523/https://www.thehindu.com/podcast/the-implications-of-pervez-musharrafs-death-sentence-for-civil-military-relations-in-pakistan-the-hindu-analysis-podcast/article30331387.ece |archive-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Analysts did not expect Musharraf to face the sentence given his illness and the fact that Dubai has no [[extradition treaty]] with Pakistan;<ref name="MW1">{{cite news |title=Pakistan sentences Musharraf to death for treason |url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/pakistan-sentences-musharraf-to-death-for-treason-2019-12-17 |access-date=17 December 2019 |work=MarketWatch |agency=Associated Press |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217102318/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/pakistan-sentences-musharraf-to-death-for-treason-2019-12-17 |archive-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="hussain">{{cite news |last1=Hussain |first1=Shaiq |title=Pakistan's former military ruler Pervez Musharraf is sentenced to death for treason |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/pakistans-former-military-ruler-pervez-musharraf-is-sentenced-to-death-for-treason/2019/12/17/a7bb9334-20a5-11ea-b034-de7dc2b5199b_story.html |access-date=17 December 2019 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=17 December 2019 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217160215/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/pakistans-former-military-ruler-pervez-musharraf-is-sentenced-to-death-for-treason/2019/12/17/a7bb9334-20a5-11ea-b034-de7dc2b5199b_story.html |archive-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> the verdict was also viewed as largely symbolic given that Musharraf retained support within the current Pakistani government and military.<ref name=NYTAnnul/>

Musharraf challenged the verdict,<ref name=NYTAnnul/><ref name="Dawn LHC Jan 2020" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/262503-musharraf-representiave |title= Musharraf lawyer in UK calls for retrial in high treason case |date=18 December 2019 |publisher=[[Geo TV]] |access-date=18 December 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218105012/https://www.geo.tv/latest/262503-musharraf-representiave |archive-date=18 December 2019}}</ref> and on 13 January 2020, the Lahore High Court annulled the death sentence against Musharraf, ruling that the special court that held the trial was unconstitutional.<ref name=NYTAnnul/> The unanimous verdict was delivered by a three-member bench of the Lahore High Court,<ref name=NYTAnnul/><ref name="Dawn LHC Jan 2020">{{cite news |last1=Bilal |first1=Rana |title=Special court formed for Musharraf treason trial 'unconstitutional', rules LHC |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1528058/special-court-formed-for-musharraf-treason-trial-unconstitutional-rules-lhc |access-date=13 January 2020 |work=Dawn|location=Pakistan |date=13 January 2020 |language=en |archive-date=13 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113111542/https://www.dawn.com/news/1528058/special-court-formed-for-musharraf-treason-trial-unconstitutional-rules-lhc |url-status=live }}</ref> consisting of Justice [[Sayyed Muhammad Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi]], Justice [[Muhammad Ameer Bhatti]], and Justice Chaudhry Masood Jahangir.<ref name="Dawn LHC Jan 2020"/> The court ruled that the prosecution of Musharraf was politically motivated and that the crimes of [[high treason]] and subverting the Constitution were "a joint offence" that "cannot be undertaken by a single person".<ref name=NYTAnnul/>

==Personal life ==
Musharraf was the second son of his parents and had two brothers—Javed and Naved.<ref name="duggerbio"/><ref name="mombbc">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4368099.stm "Musharraf Mother Meets Indian PM"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129065003/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4368099.stm |date=29 January 2009}}. BBC News (21 March 2005).</ref><ref name="chitkara"/> Javed retired as a high-level official in Pakistan's civil service.<ref name="chitkara"/> Naved is an [[anaesthetist]] who has lived in Chicago since completing his residency training at [[Loyola University Medical Center]] in 1979.<ref name="duggerbio"/><ref name="chitkara"/>

Musharraf married Sehba, who is from Karachi, on 28 December 1968.<ref name="worth"/> They had a daughter, Ayla, an architect married to film director [[Asim Raza]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Musharraf's daughter target for terrorists: Intelligence agencies |date=18 July 2013 |newspaper=The Times of India |location=Mumbai |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Musharrafs-daughter-target-for-terrorists-Intelligence-agencies/articleshow/21133782.cms |access-date=7 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016024712/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Musharrafs-daughter-target-for-terrorists-Intelligence-agencies/articleshow/21133782.cms |archive-date=16 October 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> and a son, Bilal.<ref name="chitkara"/><ref name="officialbio">{{cite web |year=2006 |url=http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/Biography.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705114616/http://www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk/Biography.aspx |archive-date=5 July 2008 |title=General Pervez Musharraf |publisher=Office of the Press Secretary to the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan |access-date=30 August 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He also had close family ties to the prominent [[Kheshgi|Kheshgi family]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Musharraf|first=Pervez|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZBws32j4zwYC|title=In the Line of Fire|date=4 September 2008|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-84739-596-2|language=en|access-date=2 August 2020|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205133811/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZBws32j4zwYC|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Asad|first=Malik|date=9 March 2018|title=Govt told to take steps for Musharraf's arrest, extradition|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1394063|access-date=1 August 2020|website=Dawn|location=Pakistan|language=en|archive-date=19 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019171146/https://www.dawn.com/news/1394063|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2 March 2017|title=Mush wife, daughter move court against attaching properties|url=https://nation.com.pk/02-Mar-2017/mush-wife-daughter-move-court-against-attaching-properties|access-date=2 August 2020|website=The Nation|language=en|archive-date=5 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005114042/https://www.nation.com.pk/02-Mar-2017/mush-wife-daughter-move-court-against-attaching-properties|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Govt Ordered to Take Steps for Musharraf Extradition – Abb Takk News|url=https://abbtakk.tv/en/govt-ordered-to-take-steps-for-musharraf-extradition/|access-date=2 August 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=16 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416024205/https://abbtakk.tv/en/govt-ordered-to-take-steps-for-musharraf-extradition/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Musharraf|first=Pervez|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZBws32j4zwYC&q=khaishgi+musharraf&pg=PT13|title=In the Line of Fire|date=4 September 2008|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-1-84739-596-2|language=en|access-date=2 November 2020|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205133812/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZBws32j4zwYC&q=khaishgi+musharraf&pg=PT13|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Death===
On 5 February 2023, Musharraf died at age 79 due to [[amyloidosis]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/former-pakistani-president-pervez-musharraf-passes-away-dies-reports-101675577034276.html|title=Pervez Musharraf, former Pakistani president and army general, dies at 79|date=5 February 2023|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|access-date=5 February 2023|archive-date=5 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205072634/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/former-pakistani-president-pervez-musharraf-passes-away-dies-reports-101675577034276.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He had been hospitalised a year prior due to the disease. His body was returned to Karachi, Pakistan, from Dubai on 6 February.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Ellis-Petersen |first1=Hannah |date=5 February 2023 |title=Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf dies in Dubai after long illness |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/05/former-pakistan-president-pervez-musharraf-dies-in-dubai-after-long-illness |access-date=5 February 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=5 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205074124/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/05/former-pakistan-president-pervez-musharraf-dies-in-dubai-after-long-illness |url-status=live }}</ref> His funeral prayers were offered at a mosque in Karachi's Gulmohar Polo Ground in [[Malir Cantonment]] on 7 February.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Imtiaz |date=7 February 2023 |title=Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf's funeral prayers offered in Karachi |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1735814 |access-date=7 February 2023 |website=Dawn |location=Pakistan |language=en |archive-date=7 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207105649/https://www.dawn.com/news/1735814 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was laid to rest with military honours in an army graveyard.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 February 2023 |title=Pervez Musharraf laid to rest; Several retired and serving military officers attend funeral prayers |url=https://theprint.in/world/pervez-musharraf-laid-to-rest-several-retired-and-serving-military-officers-attend-funeral-prayers/1359546/ |access-date=7 February 2023 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US |archive-date=7 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207131650/https://theprint.in/world/pervez-musharraf-laid-to-rest-several-retired-and-serving-military-officers-attend-funeral-prayers/1359546/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Bibliography ==
Musharraf published his autobiography—''[[In the Line of Fire: A Memoir]]''—in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5398678.stm |title=Musharraf book draws mixed response |last=Plett |first=Barbara |date=2 October 2006 |work=BBC News |access-date=17 December 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217095857/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5398678.stm |archive-date=17 December 2019}}</ref> His book has also been translated into Urdu, Hindi, Tamil and Bangali. In Urdu the title is ''Sab Se Pehle Pakistan'' (''Pakistan Comes First'').

==Effective dates of promotion==
{| class="wikitable"
!style="background:#FFFFE0| Insignia !! style="background:#FFFFE0|Rank !!style="background:#FFFFE0| Date
|-
|style="background:#FFFFE0|[[File:OF-9 Pakistan Army.svg|frameless|20x20px]] [[File:US-O10 insignia.svg|70px]]||style="background:#FFFFE0|[[General (Pakistan)|General]], [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|COAS]]||style="background:#FFFFE0|Oct 1998
|-
|style="background:#FFFFE0|[[File:OF-8 PakistanArmy.svg|frameless|10px]][[File:US-O9 insignia.svg|55px]]||style="background:#FFFFE0|[[Lieutenant General (Pakistan)|Lieutenant-General]]  ||style="background:#FFFFE0|1995
|-
|style="background:#FFFFE0|[[File:OF-7 Pakistan Army.svg|frameless|10px]] [[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|35px]] ||style="background:#FFFFE0|[[Major-General]]||style="background:#FFFFE0|1991
|-
|style="background:#FFFFE0|[[File:OF-6 Pakistan Army.svg|frameless|10px]][[File:US-O7 insignia.svg|16px]]||style="background:#FFFFE0|[[Brigadier]]|| style="background:#FFFFE0| 1987
|-
|style="background:#FFFFE0|[[File:OF-5 Pakistan Army.svg|frameless|10px]]||style="background:#FFFFE0|[[Colonel (Pakistan)|Colonel]]|| style="background:#FFFFE0|1978
|-
|style="background:#FFFFE0|[[File:OF-4 Pakistan Army.svg|frameless|10px]]||style="background:#FFFFE0|[[Lieutenant Colonel]]|| style="background:#FFFFE0|1974
|-
|style="background:#FFFFE0|[[File:OF-4 Pakistan Army.svg|frameless|10px]]||style="background:#FFFFE0|[[Major (rank)|Major]]||style="background:#FFFFE0| 1972
|-
|style="background:#FFFFE0|[[File:OF-2 Pakistan Army.svg|frameless|10px]]||style="background:#FFFFE0|[[Captain]]  || style="background:#FFFFE0|1966
|-
|style="background:#FFFFE0|[[File:OF-1(B) Pakistan Army.svg|frameless|10px]]|| style="background:#FFFFE0|[[Lieutenant]] || style="background:#FFFFE0|1965
|-
|style="background:#FFFFE0|[[File:OF-1%28A%29_Pakistan_Army.svg |10px]]||style="background:#FFFFE0|[[Second Lieutenant]]||style="background:#FFFFE0|1964
|}

== Awards and decorations ==
{| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Nishan-e-Imtiaz.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Hilal-e-Imtiaz.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Basalat.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War Ribbon.png|width=130}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Baqa (1998).png|width=130}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Istaqlal (2002).png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=10 years Service Medal.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=20 years Service Medal.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=30 years Service Medal.png|width=130}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=35 years Service Medal.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=40 years Service Medal (Pakistan Armed Forces).png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Hijri Tamgha.png|width=130}}
|-
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Jamhuriat Tamgha 1988.png|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha Pakistan.svg|width=130}}
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Independence Day Golden Jubilee Medal, 2006.svg|width=130}}
|{{ribbon devices|ribbon=Command and Staff College Quetta Centenary Medal.svg|width=130}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"
|'''[[Nishan-e-Imtiaz]]'''
'''[[Nishan-e-Imtiaz|(Military)]]'''

''(Order of Excellence)''
|'''[[Hilal-i-Imtiaz|Hilal-e-Imtiaz]]'''
'''[[Hilal-i-Imtiaz|(Military)]]'''

''(Crescent of Excellence)''
|'''[[Tamgha-e-Basalat]]'''
''(Medal of Good Conduct)''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Campaign / war medals|Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War]]'''
''(War Star 1965)''
|-
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Campaign / war medals|Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War]]'''
''(War Star 1971)''
|[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Campaign / war medals|'''Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War''']]
''(War Medal 1965)''

'''With [[Mentioned in dispatches|MiD]] or [[Imtiazi Sanad]]'''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Campaign / war medals|Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War]]'''
''(War Medal 1971)''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Commemorative medals|Tamgha-e-Baqa]]'''
''([[Chagai-I|Nuclear Test Medal]])''

'''1998'''
|-
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Campaign / war medals|Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan]]'''
''([[2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff|Escalation with India Medal]])''

'''2002'''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Long service medals|10 Years Service Medal]]'''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Long service medals|20 Years Service Medal]]'''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Long service medals|30 Years Service Medal]]'''
|-
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Long service medals|35 Years Service Medal]]'''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Long service medals|40 Years Service Medal]]'''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Commemorative medals|Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-]]'''
'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Commemorative medals|Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam]]'''

''(100th Birth Anniversary of''

''[[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]])''

'''1976'''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Commemorative medals|Hijri Tamgha]]'''
''(Hijri Medal)''

'''1979'''
|-
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Commemorative medals|Jamhuriat Tamgha]]'''
''(Democracy Medal)''

'''1988'''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Commemorative medals|Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha]]'''
''(Resolution Day''

''Golden Jubilee Medal)''

'''1990'''
|'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Commemorative medals|Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan]]'''
''(Independence Day''

''Golden Jubilee Medal)''

'''1997'''
|[[Pakistan Command and Staff College|'''Command & Staff College''']]
'''[[Pakistan Command and Staff College|Quetta]]'''

'''[[Awards and decorations of the Pakistan Armed Forces#Commemorative medals|Instructor's Medal]]'''
|}

=== Foreign decorations ===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! colspan="3" style="background:#006400; color:#FFFFFF; text-align:center" |'''Foreign awards'''
|-
!scope=row|{{flagu|Saudi Arabia}}
|'''[[Order of Abdulaziz al Saud|Order of King Abdul Aziz – Class I]]<ref name="Rasooldeen" />'''
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Order of King Abdulaziz, 1st Class (Saudi Arabia).png|width=130}}
|-
!scope=row|{{flagu|UAE}}
|'''[[Order of Zayed|The Order of Zayed]]'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Khalifa and Musharraf meet in bid to revive peace process |url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/khalifa-and-musharraf-meet-in-bid-to-revive-peace-process-1.156527 |access-date=3 July 2022 |website=Gulf News |date=25 January 2007 |language=en |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703203648/https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/khalifa-and-musharraf-meet-in-bid-to-revive-peace-process-1.156527 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Ribbon bar of the Order of Zayed.svg|width=130}}
|}

==See also==
* [[Enlightened moderation]]
* [[Politics of Pakistan]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|Pervez Musharraf|wikt=no|c=Pervez Musharraf|commonscat=yes|n=Pervez Musharraf|q=Pervez Musharraf|s=no|author=no|b=no|voy=no|v=no|d=Q40495|species=no|species_author=no|m=no|mw=no}}

===Official===
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100824194056/http://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=351 General Pervez Musharraf], official [[Pakistan Army]] profile
* [http://www.musharraffoundation.org/ Pervez Musharraf Foundation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102163910/http://www.musharraffoundation.org/ |date=2 November 2020 }}

===Interviews and statements===
* {{C-SPAN}}
* {{Charlie Rose view|275}}
* {{IMDb name}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060517165911/http://www.usip.org/events/2003/0625_CIBpakistan.html Address by Pervez Musharraf] to [[U.S. Institute of Peace]] (text, audio & video available) June 2003
* [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A5081-2004May31.html "Plea for Enlightened Moderation"], Pervez Musharraf, ''[[The Washington Post]]'', 13 May 2004

===Media coverage===
* {{Dawn topic|pervez-musharraf}}
* {{Guardian topic|world/pervez-musharraf}}
* {{New York Times topic|new_id=person/pervez-musharraf}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110611004435/http://ezine.pk/?Was-Kargil-A-Conspiracy-Against-Pakistan&id=1761 "Was Kargil a Conspiracy Against Pakistan?"], e-zine.pk, 14 May 2011, conspiracy theory involving Musharraf, the U.S. and India
* [http://www.english.rfi.fr/asia-pacific/20130501-violence-and-musharraf-mark-pakistan-election-campaign "Terror and Musharraf's hubris mark Pakistan election campaign"], [[Radio France Internationale]] {{in lang|en}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef
| before = Khalid Latif Mughal
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = Commander of [[I Corps (Pakistan)|I Corps]]
| years = 1995–1998
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Saleem Haider]]
}}
|-
{{s-bef
| rows = 2
| before = [[Jehangir Karamat]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee|Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee]]
| years = 1998–2001
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Aziz Khan (general)|Aziz Khan]]
}}
|-
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of Army Staff]]
| years = 1998–2007
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Ashfaq Parvez Kayani]]
}}
|-
{{s-off
}}
{{s-bef
| before = [[Nawaz Sharif]]
| as = Prime Minister of Pakistan
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Prime Minister of Pakistan|Chief Executive of Pakistan]]
| years = 1999–2002
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Zafarullah Khan Jamali]]
| as = Prime Minister of Pakistan
}}
|-
{{s-bef
| before = [[Nawaz Sharif]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[Defence Minister of Pakistan|Minister of Defence]]
| years = 1999–2002
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Rao Sikandar Iqbal]]
}}
|-
{{s-bef
| before = [[Muhammad Rafiq Tarar]]
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = [[President of Pakistan]]
| years = 2001–2008
}}
{{s-aft
| after = [[Muhammad Mian Soomro]]<br /><small>Acting</small>
}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-new|party
}}
{{s-ttl
| title = Leader of the [[All Pakistan Muslim League]]
| years = 2010–2023
}}
{{s-vac
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Pervez Musharraf}}
{{Presidents of Pakistan}}
{{Martial Law Administrators of Pakistan}}
{{Pakistan Army Staff Chief}}
{{CJCSC Pakistan}}

{{Portal bar|Pakistan|Politics|Biography}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Musharraf, Pervez}}
[[Category:Pervez Musharraf| ]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:All Pakistan Muslim League politicians]]
[[Category:BOL Network people]]
[[Category:Chairmen Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee]]
[[Category:Chiefs of Army Staff, Pakistan]]
[[Category:Deaths from amyloidosis]]
[[Category:Defence and security analysts in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Forman Christian College alumni]]
[[Category:Fugitives wanted by Pakistan]]
[[Category:Pakistani criminals]]
[[Category:Government of Benazir Bhutto staffers and personnel]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies]]
[[Category:Heads of government who were later imprisoned]]
[[Category:Leaders who took power by coup]]
[[Category:Military personnel of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
[[Category:Military theorists]]
[[Category:Muhajir people]]
[[Category:National Defence University, Pakistan alumni]]
[[Category:Academic staff of the National Defence University, Pakistan]]
[[Category:Pakistan Army Artillery officers]]
[[Category:Pakistan Command and Staff College alumni]]
[[Category:Pakistan Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Pakistani contract bridge players]]
[[Category:Pakistani exiles]]
[[Category:Pakistani expatriates in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Pakistani expatriates in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Pakistani expatriates in Turkey]]
[[Category:Pakistani financiers]]
[[Category:Pakistani generals]]
[[Category:Pakistani memoirists]]
[[Category:Pakistani military personnel of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
[[Category:Pakistani nationalists]]
[[Category:Pakistani people of Arab descent]]
[[Category:Pakistani political party founders]]
[[Category:Pakistani political people]]
[[Category:Pakistani political philosophers]]
[[Category:Pakistani politicians convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:Pakistani prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:Pakistani Sunni Muslims]]
[[Category:People convicted of treason against Pakistan]]
[[Category:People from Delhi]]
[[Category:People of the insurgency in Balochistan]]
[[Category:People of the insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]
[[Category:People of the Kargil War]]
[[Category:People sentenced to death in absentia]]
[[Category:Politicians from Karachi]]
[[Category:Presidents of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Radical centrist writers]]
[[Category:Recipients of Hilal-i-Imtiaz]]
[[Category:Recipients of Nishan-e-Imtiaz]]
[[Category:Recipients of Tamgha-e-Basalat]]
[[Category:Special Services Group officers]]
[[Category:St. Patrick's High School, Karachi alumni]]