[Kool Guy]

Former President, Islamic Republic of Pakistan

General Pervez Musharraf

Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Tamgha-e-Basalat

Date of Birth
August 11, 1943
Place of Birth
Born in a Haveli, situated in Mohallah Kacha Saad Ullah, Old Delhi

Parents
President Musharraf’s father Syed Musharraf Uddin, a graduate of Aligarh University, served in the Civil Services, Delhi. After partition, he joined the Foreign Department and retired as Director, Foreign Affairs. His mother received her Master’s degree from Lucknow University.

Children
President Musharraf has two children, Ayla and Bilal, and both are happily married. He has two grand daughters from Ayla; a grandson and a grand daughter from Bilal.

Career
General Pervez Musharraf joined the Pakistan Military Academy in 1961 and was commissioned in an elite Artillery Regiment in 1964. He saw action in the 1965 war as a young officer in the Khem Karan, Lahore and Sialkot sectors with a self propelled Artillery Regiment. He was awarded the Imtiaz-i-Sanad for gallantry. He later volunteered and served for seven years in the Special Service Group "Commandos". He also participated in the 1971 war as Company Commander in a Commando Battalion.

General Musharraf has had the privilege of commanding two self-propelled Artillery Regiments. As a Brigadier, he had the distinction of commanding an Infantry Brigade as well as Armored Division Artillery. On promotion to the rank of Major General on 15th January 1991, he was given the command of an Infantry Division and later of a prestigious strike Corps as Lieutenant General on 21st October 1995.

General Musharraf has served on various important staff and instructional appointments during his career. These include Deputy Military Secretary at the Military Secretary’s Branch, member of Directing Staff both at the Command and Staff College, Quetta and the National Defence College. He has also remained the Director General Military Operations at the General Headquarters.

A graduate of Command and Staff College, Quetta and the National Defence College, General Pervez Musharraf also distinguished himself at the Royal College of Defence Studies, in the United Kingdom. A comment from his performance report was, "a capable, articulate and extremely personable officer, who made a most valuable impact here. His country is fortunate to have the services of a man of his undeniable quality".

General Pervez Musharraf was promoted to the rank of General on 7th October 1998 and appointed Chief of Army Staff. He was given the additional charge of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee on 9th April 1999 which he relinquished in October 2001. He performed his duties as the Chief Executive of Pakistan from 12 th October 1999 to the time he became President.On November 28, 2007 President Pervez Musharraf retired from Army as Chief of Army Staff. He took oath for the second term as Civilian President of Pakistan on November 29, 2007.

[Kool Guy]

PERSONAL LIFE (INTERVIEW)

Where were you born?
In a Haveli, situated in Mohallah Kacha Saad Ullah in Old Delhi

What are your favorite sports?
Tennis and Swimming

Are there any special foods that you enjoy?
Dahi Phulki, Kheer, and Daal

What music do you enjoy listening to?
Old songs and popular ghazals. Favorite artistes include Mehdi Hasan, Naheed Akhtar and Mehnaz

What are your views about your mother?
She is a strong-willed personality but extremely loving

Tell us about your wife
She is balanced, sober and well read; in fact, she is a voracious reader. She is religious but moderate in thought

How many children do you have?
Two - a boy and a girl. Ayla and Bilal are well-educated, modest, and affectionate

Do you enjoy art and who is your favorite artist?
Ismail Gulgee is an all-time favorite

Which book have you read recently and really enjoyed?
Leaders by Richard Nixon

Who is your favorite sportsman?
Javed Miandad

Who are your favorite leaders?
Quaid-e-Azam and Ayub Khan

You enjoy travelling ... which is your favorite city?
Istanbul, Turkey

What sort of clothes do you like to wear?
No specific brands, just well-stitched clothes from anywhere

Which leader has impressed you?
Lee Kwan Yew

What was the most embarrassing moment of your life?
Discovering the involvement of Dr. AQ Khan in the nuclear proliferation scandal

What was the most memorable event in your life?
October 12, 1999

Your saddest moment?
The death of my father

Which event turned your life around?
Becoming Army Chief

What do you do to relax?
I enjoy sports, playing bridge, and listening to music

What, in your opinion, was a major event in Pakistan’s history?
1971 - the separation of Bangladesh, which was a tragic event

Are family values important to you?
The respect of elders is what I consider a primary family value, and the homogeneity of family is also extremely important

What does being a Pakistani mean to you?
I take pride in being a Pakistani, and therefore get upset when I see Pakistan being projected negatively

What was your most thrilling adventure?
A physical land-slide in Chanoti