Video: Musharraf hands over military post

To the strains of Auld Lang Syne and choking back tears, President Musharraf resigned as army chief yesterday, defusing a political crisis and setting Pakistan back on the path to civilian democratic rule.

The former commando, who seized power in a coup in 1999, handed the baton of command to General Ashfaq Kayani, a trusted ally, in a move that alters dramatically the dynamics of Pakistani politics. Mr Musharraf is due to be sworn in today as a civilian president – in a Western suit – and officials say that within days he could lift the state of emergency that he imposed on November 3.

The historic handover took place at an elaborate, emotional and occasionally surreal ceremony in a hockey stadium next to the army headquarters in Rawalpindi. Buglers saluted General Musharraf, in ceremonial dress topped with a green sash and a rack of medals, as he arrived at the arena, packed with hundreds of the military and political elite of Pakistan.

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BACKGROUND

• Pakistan in turmoil as ‘martial law’ imposed

• Bhutto escapes as bombers kill 126

• Timeline: Pakistan's period of turmoil

• The man out to oust a President

• Internal crisis gives Pakistan reason for hope

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Multimedia

• Video: Musharraf ends military role

As a brass band played Auld Lang Syne, he made a final inspection of an honour guard in white puttees and plumed hats, before mounting a dais with his successor. The climax came when General Musharraf – who joined the army in 1961 and described his uniform as a “second skin” – picked up the army chief cane and handed it to General Kayani. They shook hands, saluted, and thus ended eight years of military rule in a country that has lurched between dictatorship and democracy ever since it emerged from a divided British India in 1947.

“After remaining in uniform for 46 years I am saying goodbye to this army. This army is my life, this army is my passion. I have loved this army,” President Musharraf said in his farewell speech. “I will no longer command . . . but my heart and my mind will always be with you,” he said, dabbing his eyes behind his glasses.

His resignation, under pressure from his US sponsors and three years after he promised to step down, allows him to begin another five-year term as President today, despite a massive slump in his popularity and widespread protests since he tried to sack the Chief Justice in March. It also paves the way for him to lift the state of emergency, thus freeing opposition parties to campaign freely for parliamentary elections due on January 8.

The US and Britain hope that it will allow the army to concentrate on fighting the Taleban and al-Qaeda on the border with Afghanistan. Washington, which has backed President Musharraf as a key ally in the War on Terror, welcomed his resignation and called for free and fair elections. Gordon Brown said that Mr Musharraf’s move was an important part of his plan to restore constitutional order.

It comes, however, at the expense of an independent Supreme Court, which was summarily purged to endorse the victory of Mr Musharraf in a presidential election last month. During the ceremony about 400 lawyers staged a protest two miles away, shouting slogans including “We want freedom” and “Hang Musharraf”.

It also leaves Mr Musharraf more vulnerable than ever to his long-term opponents, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. Ms Bhutto, who retuned from exile in October, and Mr Sharif, who returned on Sunday, welcomed the resignation. “It is a pleasant moment in the history of Pakistan. Now our army will get a full-time general as its leader,” Ms Bhutto said. They have registered for the parliamentary elections, but have not yet decided whether to boycott them or accept Mr Musharraf as a civilian President.

Two sorts of rulers

Civilian

Liaquat Ali Khan 1947 - 1951

Khwaja Nazimuddin 1951 - 1958

Military

Ayub Khan 1958 - 1969

Agha Mohammad

Yahya Khan 1969 - 1971

Civilian

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto 1971 - 1977

Military

Zia-ul Haq 1977 - 1988

Civilian

Benazir Bhutto 1988 - 1990

Nawaz Sharif 1990 - 1993

Benazir Bhutto 1993 - 1996

Nawaz Sharif 1996 - 1999

Miltary

Pervez Musharraf 1999 - present

Sources: University of Berkley; Agencies; Times archive

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