Musharraf Gives Up Military Post
November 28, 2007
With a great deal of local and international pressure, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has finally given up his position as head of Pakistan’s military. He handed over his military post (Chief of Army Staff) to his subordinate, General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani today. Mr. Musharraf now plans to take the presidential oath of office as a civilian on Thursday.
Mr. Musharraf will have fewer powers without being in command of the military, but his successor is expected to maintain Musharraf’s policies. The New York Times writes of General Kayani: “He has played a prominent role in cooperating with the United States in the fight against terrorism in Pakistan and is expected to continue that policy,” and that he “is understood to want to remove the army from the forefront of politics and concentrate on military concerns.”
Mr. Musharraf is still facing tough criticism from his political opponents who demand that he end emergency rule and reinstate the federal judges he fired. The international community has also shown concern. According to BBC News, “US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said President Musharraf’s stepping down was a good first step but called for a state of emergency to be lifted ahead of January elections,” and “President Musharraf’s critics in Pakistan and allies in the West say they cannot be free and fair unless the emergency is lifted.”
