President Pervez Musharraf was a unique personality, positive and progressive in thought and outlook, a strident patriot in the mould of his military background, determined and quick to decide and act, open and congenial in conversation who enjoyed discussion and listened to different arguments and opinion. Yet he is controversial, especially by the circumstances of his ascension to power and a few decisions in the later part of his rule. He made mistakes for which he paid a heavy price. The purpose of this note is not to analyse his personality and the period of his rule but to look for his contributions that will have a lasting imprint on Pakistan.
Almost daily, when we open our television sets and surf through scores of Pakistani channels, we hardly remember that this flourishing of media owes to President Musharraf’s decision to liberalise print and electronic media, a landmark in the socio-political development of Pakistan. Today, the role of our media in influencing and moulding public opinion is indisputable. Ironically, it also contributed to his exit.
Similarly, the common sight of women representatives in our assemblies, both federal and provincial, again owes to the decisions made under the Musharraf rule. We now take this gender balance almost for granted, but it was not so even a couple of decades ago and it marks a definite and permanent advance in the society.
A less recognised contribution by President Musharraf is the support his government provided to the education sector by increasing funds by manifolds. For the first time, teachers especially at the university and college levels were receiving decent emoluments for their services to the country. The education sector falls short in reforms and a targeted education to prepare the young generation by emphasising STEM subjects to meet the challenges of industrial, agricultural and technological development in the country. But for that the onus falls on the lack of clarity about purposeful education in the country. Generous funding was allocated for scholarships to study abroad, especially for PhD in science subjects. The outcome had been mixed, but there is undeniable need for such programmes.
There have been several policy initiatives to free and expand cultural space to encourage artistic talent and attenuate the constricted environment that had prevailed in the country since the late seventies. A better understanding started taking shape about the importance of nurturing and promoting the soft image of Pakistan.
The writer is an author and a former foreign secretary.
Asim Siddiqi Chairman
Pegasus Consultancy
In my over 2 decades of association with late General Pervez Musharraf, I would say that the thing which distinguished him from others was the fact Gen. Musharraf lived his life by being who he was. There was hardly any pretence.
His simplicity, modesty, honesty, humility and all the rest of his core family values were portrayed in everything he said and did. He had a unique ability to put people at ease instantly, regardless of their age, background and social status.
He was a gem of a person, a true leader, an international statesman, and above all an inspiration for so many of us, who take pride in just being fortunate enough to have known him and to have spent time with him.
He was the centre of the universe for so many people whom he made to feel as if they were the stars in his world. We were not just a part of his life, he was at times the life in us. I remember my last introduction by him was that I was his “old friend”.
Au revoir my old friend, until we meet again…