Pervez Musharraf resigns as president of Pakistan | World news | The Guardian Pervez Musharraf resigns as president of Pakistan • Leader defends his record in televised address to the nation • Miliband hails president's 'commitment to tackle terrorism' Saeed Shah in Islamabad and agencies Monday 18 August 2008 10.30 EDT First published on Monday 18 August 2008 10.30 EDT Share on Messenger Close Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf , today bowed to intense pressure and resigned ahead of impeachment proceedings due to start this week. Musharraf appeared live on national television just after 1pm local time (8am BST) in an address that lasted for over an hour. Towards the finish, as the former army commander put an end to almost nine years in power, his voice trembled and he appeared to have tears in his eyes. "If I was doing this just for myself, I might have chosen a different course," he said, wearing a western suit and tie but speaking in Urdu. "But I put Pakistan first, as always.

"Whether I win or lose the impeachment, the dignity of the nation would be damaged, the office of the president harmed." It is likely that Musharraf stepped down as a part of a western-mediated deal between the president and the coalition government, according to which all charges against him will be dropped in return for his resignation. Britain's foreign secretary, David Miliband, said the move marked the end of a "critical period" in Pakistan's history and called for quick elections to find a successor. "The Musharraf years yielded significant dividends… It is important to highlight President Musharraf's commitment to tackle terrorism, to promote dialogue with India, especially over Kashmir, and to root out corruption," he said. "I look forward to the early election of a new president in Pakistan to take forward the important shared work that binds our two countries together." The US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, praised Musharraf as a "friend to the United States and one of the world's most committed partners in the war against terrorism and extremism". She said the US would work with the new leaders and impress on them the need to stem "the growth of extremism".

Although it was believed Musharraf resigned as part of a deal to avoid prosecution, it was a humiliation nevertheless for the ex-army chief to have to submit to the very politicians he hated. But he admitted he had been left with no choice. "Even if I beat this impeachment, relations between the presidency and the government can never be fixed," he said. "Pillars of the state – parliament and the judiciary – would be harmed and, God forbid, the army might have been dragged in." He said he wanted the people to be his judge. The foreign minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, said leaders of the ruling coalition were discussing whether to prosecute Musharraf in court on the impeachment charges. Qureshi would not say whether Musharraf might be granted a safe exit; there has been speculation he might go into exile in Saudi Arabia or Turkey. "That is a decision that has to be taken by the democratic leadership," said Qureshi, a member of the Pakistan People's party (PPP), in a television interview with Dawn News. The Pakistan Muslim League-N, the second-biggest party in the coalition government with the PPP, said Musharraf should be tried for treason, which carries a maximum sentence of death.

Its leader, Nawaz Sharif, whom Musharraf deposed as prime minister in a coup in October 1999, was the prime mover behind the impeachment. "The crimes of Musharraf against the nation, against the judiciary, against democracy and against rule of law in the country cannot be forgiven by any party or individual," said the party's spokesman, Ahsan Iqbal. Musharraf, who was a near-absolute ruler until he stepped down as army chief in November last year and held elections this February, did not leave without first launching into an impassioned and lengthy defence of his record. He said the allegations against him were "lies". Musharraf laid the blame for Pakistan's economic crisis squarely on the current government, saying that just eight months ago the economy was booming and Pakistan was regarded as one of the next great emerging market success stories. "When I took over, nine years ago, this country was on the verge of being declared a terrorist state, on the verge of becoming a failed state," he said.

"The challenges of the last nine years have been greater than any in Pakistan's history, yet I have met those challenges." Celebrations broke out across the country after Musharraf's announcement, with people dancing and handing out sweets. "Thank God he's resigned. The country will do much better now. It's a victory for the people," said Mohammad Ilyas, 30, in Karachi. Lawyers, who have spearheaded an anti-Musharraf campaign since he tried to sack the chief justice last year, stormed out of courts in the south-eastern city of Multan on hearing of his resignation, shouting: "Down with the American stooge." "It's just like I'm celebrating my wedding," said one lawyer, Malik Naveed. It is not yet clear who the next president will be. According to the constitution, the chairman of the senate, Mohammadmian Soomro, will become acting president until a new president is elected within 30 days for a five-year term. Most members of the coalition government did not want to go through the trauma of impeachment proceedings, hoping the threat of prosecution would be enough to persuade the president to go.

Musharraf held out for almost two weeks after the announcement that the government had decided to impeach him. Reza Rabbani, a leading PPP member, said: "This is the first time in Pakistan's political history where you have the people winning against establishment institutions." Pervez Musharraf Resigns as President of Pakistan | World History Project Aug 18 2008 Pervez Musharraf Resigns as President of Pakistan General (ret) Pervez Musharraf (Urdu: پرویز مشرف) (born 11 August 1943), NI(M), TBt, is a Pakistani politician and military figure who served as the 10th President of Pakistan (2001-2008) and the Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army (1998-2007). He took power on 12 October 1999, following a nonviolent military coup d'état and subsequent ouster of the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The military-led government stated its intention to restructure the political, economic and electoral systems.

On May 12, 2000, Pakistan's 12 member Supreme Court unanimously validated the October 1999 coup and granted Musharraf executive and legislative authority for 3 years from the coup date endorsing his governance. On 18 August 2008, Pervez Musharraf resigned from the post of President under impeachment pressure from the coalition government. He was succeeded on 6 September 2008 by Asif Ali Zardari duly elected as Pakistan's 11th President. Pakistan’s President Musharraf resigns office | FDD's Long War Journal Pakistan’s President Musharraf resigns office By Bill Roggio | August 18, 2008 | admin@longwarjournal.org | @billroggio Former President and General Pervez Musharraf. President Pervez Musharraf, the longtime military leader of Pakistan and erstwhile ally of the US in the war against Islamic extremists, announced his resignation after months of political battles with the recently elected government of Pakistan. Musharraf’s resignation pre-empted an expected impeachment battle that was to begin this week. Musharraf appeared on Pakistani television announcing his resignation.

“After viewing the situation and consulting legal advisers and political allies, with their advice I have decided to resign,” he said. “I leave my future in the hands of the people.” Rumors of Musharraf’s resignation appeared late last week after senior members of the military and his political advisers floated the idea to the press. The Army is believed to have asked Musharraf to step down. Musharraf’s aides were in negotiations with the Pakistan’s coalition government last week. Theses talks were facilitated by the US, Britain, and Saudi Arabia, and it is believed Musharraf received immunity in exchange for stepping down. Musharraf made numerous political enemies since taking power in a military coup in 1999. He overthrew the government of Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N). Sharif went in exile, along with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). After the al Qaeda attacks on the US on Sept. 11, 2001, Musharraf was issued an ultimatum by then Assistant Secretary of State Richard Armitage to target al Qaeda’s support network.

Armitage said the US would bomb Pakistan “back to the stone age” if the country did not support US actions in Afghanistan and dismantle al Qaeda’s safe havens in Pakistan. Musharraf’s cooperation with the US infuriated Pakistan’s Islamists political parties as well as supporters of the Taliban and jihadi groups in the military and the Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan’s shadowy spy agency. Pakistan has used the Taliban and various al Qaeda-linked jihadi groups as “strategic depth” against India, Pakistan’s enemy to the east. Pakistan’s security and intelligence services rounded up hundreds of Taliban and al Qaeda foot soldiers and scores of senior leaders, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the architect of the Sept. 11 attacks. Pakistan often claims more than 700 al Qaeda operatives have been captured over the past seven years. But Pakistan has had a spotty record in keeping al Qaeda and Taliban operatives and leaders in custody. Senior Taliban commanders such as Mullah Obaidullah have been exchanged for captured Pakistani military and governmental officials.

Sufi Mohammed, a senior extremist leader who sent more than 10,000 fighters into Afghanistan, was released in exchange for settling a “peace deal” in Bajaur and Malakand. The government dropped charges against radical Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz and 450 students after they participated in an armed uprising in the capital of Islamabad. And al Qaeda operatives, such as Rashid Rauf, have escaped capture under very unusual circumstances. Musharraf sealed his fate after declaring martial law in November 2007. Done under the auspices of fighting the Taliban and al Qaeda, Musharraf instead used his power to dismiss the justices of the Supreme Court and pack the court with his supporters. Parliamentary and provincial elections were suspended. He modified the constitution to allow him to remain in power and rounded up his political enemies in the PPP and PML-N. Benazir Bhutto was placed under house arrest just weeks after triumphantly returning from exile. Musharraf lifted martial law in January and parliamentary and provincial elections were held in late February. The PPP won the most seats, followed by the PML-N.

The Pakistan Muslim League – Qaid, Musharraf’s political party, took a distant fourth. The Muttahida Majlis-e-Amil, or MMA, the pro-Taliban Islamist party, was also routed. Talks of impeachment and the removal of Musharraf began immediately. Pakistan and the future fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban The resignation of Musharraf now calls into question Pakistan’s role in the Long War and the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban. Musharraf, for all of his faults, has long been seen as an ally of the US against the rise of Islamic extremists in Pakistan’s border areas. The United States has invested its political capital in supporting Musharraf while transitioning power to a secular government, presumed to have been led by Bhutto, that is capable of fighting the Taliban. Musharraf, who was Chief of Staff of the Army, was to remain as president while the Army would be led by General Ashfaq Kiyani, a protege of Musharraf and the former head of the Inter-Services Intelligence.

But Bhutto was killed by the Taliban in December 2007, and now Musharraf has been removed from the picture, leaving Pakistan’s political parties fighting over control of the government. The Pakistani coalition government of the PPP and the PML-N has focused enormous energy in the efforts to eject Musharraf from the presidency, while the security situation in the Northwest Frontier Province and the tribal agencies has deteriorated rapidly. The federal government has largely deferred to the Awami National Party, a secular Pashtun party that won elections in the Northwest Frontier Province, to make policy with respect to the Taliban. The provincial government, with the backing of the federal government, has signed multiple peace agreements with the Taliban in the tribal areas and in the settled districts of the Northwest Frontier Province. The Taliban have responded by increasing attacks and consolidating power in the region. The government then launched ineffective offensives that purported to oust the Taliban from power but only ceded more regions to the extremists. These policies are only likely to continue now that Musharraf is out of power. The PPP and the PML-N are now likely to jockey for power in Pakistan, as the office of the presidency is now up for grabs.

Nawaz and Asif Ali Zardari, the leader of the PPP and the husband of Bhutto, are believed to be eying the office. “Sharif, Zardari, and [Prime Minister Yousuf Raza] Gilani are the most powerful figures in Pakistani politics now,” Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, the vice president of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told The Long War Journal. Sharif has long been considered a sympathizer of the Taliban and is rumored to have accepted bribe money from al Qaeda. Sharif has also advocated an end to military operations in the Northwest Frontier Province. “Gilani will try to strengthen the office of prime minister,” Gartenstein-Ross said, noting that prior to Musharraf’s coup, the office of the prime minister was the seat of power in Pakistan. While machinations of Pakistan’s’ political parties play out over the next weeks and months, al Qaeda, the Taliban, and allied terror groups are likely to continue to metastasize in the Northwest Frontier Province and the tribal areas. There are 157 training camps and more than 400 support locations in the region, senior US military and intelligence officials told The Long War Journal.

Last month, Prime Minister Gilani was told more than 8,000 foreign fighters are present in the tribal areas. For background on Pakistan’s political crisis, see: Nawaz Sharif | prime minister of Pakistan | Britannica.com prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, in full Muhammad Nawaz Sharif (born December 25, 1949, Lahore , Pakistan), Pakistani businessman and politician who became prime minister in 2013, having previously served as prime minister in 1990–93 and 1997–98. Nawaz Sharif (foreground), 2010. © Asianet-Pakistan/Shutterstock.com After earning an LL.B. from the University of the Punjab in Lahore, Sharif joined his family’s influential House of Ittefaq (Ittefaq Group), an industrial conglomerate with interests in sugar, steel, and textiles. Entering politics, he served as a member of a provincial council in Punjab ; in 1981 he was appointed finance minister for the province, and, following elections in 1985, he rose to chief minister.

As leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (since 1993 the Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz [PML-N]), the primary party of the Islamic Democratic Alliance coalition, he was first elected Pakistan’s prime minister in October 1990. His election followed the dismissal of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto by Pres. Ghulam Ishaq Khan , who made use of a constitutional clause that gave him the authority, as president, to dismiss the elected government if he deemed that government to be corrupt or inefficient. During his first term, Sharif initiated an ambitious program of economic reform, privatizing a range of state-owned businesses. Facing ongoing conflict over the Kashmir region and citing a need to secure itself against a nuclear India , Pakistan continued to defy U.S. calls for it to suspend its nuclear program; in response, the United States halted its financial assistance. Sharif also faced increasing opposition as he attempted to maintain the middle path between the Islamic right wing and the social democrats. In 1993 Sharif too was dismissed on grounds similar to those for which Bhutto had been ushered out of office. Bhutto then succeeded him, and Sharif continued to be her vocal opponent.

In the 1997 elections held after Bhutto’s next dismissal, Sharif returned to serve a second term as prime minister. Soon after taking office for the second time, Sharif, backed also by Bhutto, forced the elimination of the constitutional provision that had enabled his previous dismissal from office. Sharif also set about trimming the powers of the president and the military. His attempt to block the appointment of five additional judges to the Supreme Court late in the year, however, sparked a constitutional crisis. Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, another of Sharif’s rivals, was later suspended from the court on a technicality. Rather than appoint a replacement for the chief justice, Pres. Farooq Leghari unexpectedly resigned from his post after bitterly accusing Sharif of attempting to grab sole power. The twin exits of the president and of the chief justice appeared to be another major triumph for Sharif. Nawaz Sharif with U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen, 1998. R. D. Ward/U.S. Department of Defense Britannica Stories Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent Despite a strong mandate , Sharif’s government faced severe problems.

Austerity measures implemented at the behest of the International Monetary Fund reduced government spending at a time when about half the country’s money was being allocated to servicing the debt. With an economy in shambles, enormous foreign debt, widespread corruption, graft, separatist fighting, and an ongoing dispute with neighbouring India, Sharif faced a difficult task in leading the country forward. In the late 1990s, Pakistan’s economic situation continued to deteriorate. Sanctions imposed by the West in response to the detonation of nuclear devices by Pakistan exacerbated the crisis, and in 1998 Pakistan was nearing bankruptcy. Sharif soon found himself in conflict with a new army commander, Gen. Pervez Musharraf , and in late 1999 allegedly refused to allow Musharraf’s aircraft to land. Sharif was overthrown by Musharraf in a military coup d’état almost immediately and was subsequently tried on charges of hijacking and terrorism, for which he was sentenced to life imprisonment. In 2000, having agreed to leave Pakistan for 10 years in exchange for having his jail sentence commuted, Sharif was released from prison and went into exile in Saudi Arabia.

Structures of Government: Fact or Fiction? Encouraged by a 2007 Supreme Court decision which ruled that he was free to reenter the country, Sharif returned to Pakistan in September of that year, hoping to galvanize public support for the removal of Musharraf’s increasingly unpopular rule. The Musharraf government, however, bypassed the Supreme Court ruling and arranged for Sharif’s summary arrest and deportation back to Saudi Arabia within hours of his return, a move perceived by many as flouting the law. In a visit to Saudi Arabia several weeks later, Musharraf requested that the Saudi leadership cooperate in keeping his opponent abroad until the elections scheduled for early the following year had been held; in response, King ʿAbd Allāh expressed a growing reluctance to maintain Saudi complicity in Sharif’s exile. Britannica Lists & Quizzes Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies In late November 2007, Musharraf permitted Sharif, along with his wife and brother, to arrive unimpeded in Pakistan on an aircraft provided by ʿAbd Allāh.

Underscoring Sharif’s sustained popularity, his arrival was marked by crowds of supporters; these celebrations were largely unhindered by police. Upon his return, Sharif registered to run in the elections set for the following January, though he announced his refusal to stand as prime minister under Musharraf and indicated that an opposition boycott of the vote remained an option. In addition, Sharif called for the return of a number of Supreme Court judges whom Musharraf, anticipating that they would rule to annul his reelection, had purged. In December 2007 Bhutto, who had also recently been permitted to return to Pakistan, was assassinated while campaigning in Rawalpindi. In the elections of February 2008, the PML-N won about one-fourth of the parliamentary seats up for election, finishing second to Bhutto’s party—led by her widower, Asif Ali Zardari —which captured about one-third of the seats. In March the two parties formed a coalition government. Disagreements emerged within the governing coalition in the months following its formation, particularly regarding the reinstatement of the Supreme Court judges Musharraf had dismissed late the previous year, and these disputes threatened to destabilize the alliance.

Nevertheless, in August 2008 the coalition moved to begin impeachment charges against Musharraf; on August 18, faced with the impending proceedings, Musharraf resigned. In light of ongoing differences, including disputes over Musharraf’s successor, Sharif subsequently withdrew the PML-N from the governing coalition and indicated that his party would put forth its own candidate in the presidential elections announced for early September. In the election, however, the candidates of neither the PML-N nor Musharraf’s party won enough support to pose a challenge to Zardari, and on September 6, 2008, he was elected president. Friction between Zardari and Sharif intensified in February 2009 when the Supreme Court voted to disqualify Sharif’s brother from his position as chief minister of Punjab and to uphold a ban prohibiting Sharif himself from holding political office (the ban stemmed from his 2000 hijacking conviction). Sharif alleged that the court’s rulings were politically motivated and backed by Zardari. Meanwhile, the status of the Supreme Court judges dismissed under Musharraf who had yet to be reinstated remained a major source of conflict between the two rivals.

In March 2009 Sharif broke free of an attempt to place him under house arrest and headed toward the capital, where he planned to hold a rally in support of the reinstatement of the judges. Faced with this prospect, the government agreed to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and a number of other Supreme Court judges who had not yet been returned to their posts, a move seen as a significant political victory for Sharif. Sharif’s brother was also returned to his position shortly thereafter. In late May the Supreme Court reversed the February ruling that had upheld a ban curbing Sharif’s political activity, and in July Sharif was acquitted of hijacking charges. With the last of the legal blockages against him removed, Sharif was cleared to hold public office. Sharif remained a vocal critic of Zardari and the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, accusing the incumbents of corruption and economic ineptitude . Nawaz Sharif with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in Lahore, Pak., 2009. U.S. Department of State Nawaz Sharif addressing a public gathering in Samundari, Pak., 2010.

© Asianet-Pakistan/Shutterstock.com Nawaz Sharif - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) (born 1949). Arguably the most powerful ruler in recent Pakistani history, Pakistani political leader Nawaz Sharif made headlines in early 1997 when he was elected prime minister by an overwhelming majority of his Pakistan Muslim League (PML) supporters in Parliament. Under Sharif’s leadership, Parliament passed constitutional reforms eliminating the Pakistani president’s authority to dissolve the government, a power which had previously removed Sharif from office and led to widespread political instability. Sharif’s election made him the head of Pakistan’s fourth civilian government since the restoration of democracy in 1988 following the death of military leader General Zia ul-Haq in an airplane crash. Sharif was faced with a country heavily in debt and a precarious coalition of supporters. Article Contributors Prime Minister's Office, Islamabad, Pakistan PRIME MINISTER OF PAKISTAN Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif The eldest of three siblings of Late Mian Muhammad Sharif, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was born on December 25, 1949 in Lahore.

Mr Muhammad Nawaz Sharif got his early education from prestigious schools and earned his graduation from the famous Government College, Lahore. After completion of his academics, he joined the family business and also participated actively in social and charitable activities. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif started active politics when he joined the Punjab Cabinet as Finance Minister in 1981.He also held the portfolio of Minister for Sports. In the 1985 general elections, he was elected to both the National and Punjab Provincial Assemblies. On April 9, 1985, he was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Punjab. He also served as caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab. After winning majority in the 1988 Provincial Assembly Elections, he was re-elected as Chief Minister of Punjab. He was elected as Prime Minister of Pakistan and held the office from November 1, 1990 to July 18, 1993 when President Ghulam Ishaq Khan (late) arbitrarily dissolved the National Assembly. The Supreme Court annulled the former President's unconstitutional act and reinstated the National Assembly and Nawaz Sharif's government on May 26, 1993.

However, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif resigned from his office on July 18, 1993 to facilitate fresh elections in the country. He remained leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly from October19, 1993 to 5th November 1996. He was again elected the Prime Minister of Pakistan on February 17, 1997 after his party won an overwhelming majority in the general elections. General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf staged a coup and overthrew his democratically elected popular government on Oct12, 1999.He was sentenced for life and underwent 14 months of imprisonment before being forced into exile by General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf. During previous tenures of his government, a number of mega development projects were completed including South West Asia's first 367km motorway, linking Lahore with Islamabad.

Efforts were made to strengthen the economy with the help of private sector and projects like Ghazi Barotha, Gwadar Mini port, JF-17 Fighter Jet, international airports in Karachi and Lahore, Optic Fibre Project and opening up of Telecom sector are some of the hallmarks of his economic policies. Land was distributed among landless peasants in Sindh. Relations with the Central Asian Muslim Republics were strengthened and ECO was given a boost. His most important contribution was success in re-invigorating the economy of the country by pursuing a policy of liberalization, privatization and deregulation despite economic sanctions. He succeeded in repealing the controversial Eighth Amendment unanimously and the adoption of anti-defection Fourteenth Amendment Bill. In an attempt to end the Afghan civil war after the withdrawal of Soviet Forces, he succeeded in convincing Afghan factions to unite and sign "Islamabad Accord" for establishing peace in Afghanistan and the region. Mr. Nawaz Sharif gained in stature when his government conducted nuclear tests on May 28, 1998 in response to India's nuclear blasts. This raised Pakistan's prestige globally and its security was made impregnable.

In May, 2007, he signed the Charter of Democracy (CoD) with leader of PPP Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and other prominent political leaders in London for strengthening and sustaining democracy in the country. Since 2008, he has played the role of a statesman by committing to uphold democratic values and traditions and work for the welfare of the people of Pakistan. His strict adherence to these ideals paved the way for completion of the constitutional term by the elected Assemblies. Pakistan Muslim League-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif created history in Jun 2013 when he was elected as the 27th Prime Minister for the third time by securing 244 votes in the National Assembly. Mr. Nawaz Sharif is a family man, devoted son and an affectionate father. He is God fearing; and his love for the people is manifest when he reaches out to the poor and the oppressed to redress their grievances in their hour of distress. Mr. Nawaz Sharif and Begum Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif have two sons and two daughters who are all married and well settled in life.

Asif Ali Zardari | president of Pakistan | Britannica.com president of Pakistan Yousaf Raza Gilani Asif Ali Zardari, (born July 26, 1955, Karachi, Pakistan), politician who served as president of Pakistan (2008–13) and de facto leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) following the assassination of his wife, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto , on December 27, 2007. Asif Ali Zardari, 2008. Aamir Qureshi—AFP/Getty Images Zardari—the son of Hakim Ali Zardari, a Sindhi landlord, businessman, and politician—was educated at Saint Patrick’s School in Karachi and later studied business in London. He gained a reputation as a playboy and gadfly for his easygoing lifestyle; an avid polo player and an intense competitor, Zardari demonstrated little interest in the political scene.

His betrothal to Bhutto, who was the daughter of former president (1971–73) and prime minister (1973–77) Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and whom he had first met five days prior to the public announcement of their engagement, surprised many observers. On December 18, 1987, the two were married in an arranged and relatively simple ceremony, and they went on to have three children: a son, Bilawal, and two daughters, Bakhtwar and Asifa. The couple had been married less than a year when Pres. Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq was killed, ending more than a decade of military rule. Bhutto’s subsequent success at the polls ushered her into office as prime minister. In 1990 her tenure was cut short by corruption-related scandal, however, and both Zardari and his wife were the focus of attacks from opposition politicians as well as disgruntled members of the PPP, Bhutto’s own party.

Arrested on kidnapping and extortion charges, Zardari was imprisoned in 1990, and, following his release in 1993, corruption allegations against him multiplied (some labeled him “Mr. Ten Percent,” alleging he took kickbacks on large government contracts during Bhutto’s tenure in office). Zardari served as a member of the National Assembly from 1990 to 1993—during which time he was periodically released from prison to attend sessions—and from 1993 to 1996. After Bhutto’s return to power in 1993, he served as minister of the environment (1993–96) and federal minister for investment (1995–96) in her government. Zardari aggressively sought control of the PPP, but he was the subject of ever-increasing criticism from opponents within and outside the party. In addition, Zardari was deeply involved in a Bhutto family feud led by Bhutto’s brother, Murtaza , and mother, Nusrat; the conflict between Zardari and Murtaza over leadership of the Bhutto clan ruptured the PPP and destabilized Bhutto’s government.

The Murtaza-Zardari rivalry ended abruptly on September 20, 1996, when Murtaza was shot and killed by police. Britannica Stories EU Considers Rules For Robots Zardari was implicated in Murtaza’s death, and, following the second dissolution of Bhutto’s government in November 1996, he was arrested on charges that included corruption, money laundering, and murder. Although never convicted, Zardari was imprisoned from 1997 to 2004; he was elected to the Senate from his jail cell during this time. The toll exacted on Zardari’s health by his imprisonment was considerable. Following his release, Zardari sought medical treatment in the United States for psychological distress. He returned to Pakistan with Bhutto’s resumption of political activity in 2007 and was given amnesty for his alleged offenses. Following Bhutto’s death in December 2007, Zardari named his son, Bilawal, chairman of the PPP and made himself the party’s cochairman.

In the parliamentary elections of February 2008, the PPP captured one-third of the available seats, while the party of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif won one-fourth of the seats. In March the two parties formed a coalition government. Although disagreements destabilized the administration in the months following its formation, in August 2008 Zardari and Sharif led the movement to impeach Pres. Pervez Musharraf . To avoid further public embarrassment, Musharraf resigned his office. Sharif and Zardari were not reconciled , however, and their sustained feuding ultimately caused Sharif to withdraw his party from the coalition. Zardari easily won the September 2008 presidential elections. Structures of Government: Fact or Fiction? Friction between the two rivals intensified further in early 2009, when the Supreme Court voted to disqualify Sharif’s brother from his position as chief minister of the Punjab and to uphold a ban prohibiting Sharif himself from holding political office (the ban stemmed from his 2000 hijacking conviction). Sharif alleged that the court’s rulings were politically motivated and backed by Zardari.

Meanwhile, the status of the Supreme Court judges dismissed under Musharraf who had yet to be reinstated—one of the issues that had undermined the Sharif-Zardari coalition—remained another major source of contention . Faced with the prospect of a Sharif-led protest in the capital, in March 2009 the government agreed to reinstate Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and a number of other Supreme Court judges who had not yet been returned to their posts (Sharif’s brother was also returned to his position shortly thereafter). The move was seen as a political victory for Sharif and a significant concession on the part of Zardari, who is thought to have opposed Chaudhry’s return because of the possibility that the amnesty Zardari had enjoyed under Musharraf might be overturned. Indeed, in December 2009 the Pakistani Supreme Court ruled as unconstitutional the 2007 amnesty protecting politicians accused of corruption. Zardari was among the thousands of people affected by the ruling, which essentially reactivated cases against them. Why Did President Musharraf Resign? : NPR Why Did President Musharraf Resign? Embed Embed Why Did President Musharraf Resign?

Why Did President Musharraf Resign? Embed Embed Alex Cohen talks to journalist Ahmed Rashid about Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's resignation. The embattled leader left office Monday to avoid impeachment. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says the ousted leader should face trial for treason. Facing Impeachment, Pakistan's Musharraf Resigns Facing Impeachment, Pakistan's Musharraf Resigns Embed Embed Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf inspects the honor guard during the farewell ceremony of the presidential palace in Islamabad on Aug. 18, 2008. Farooq Naeem/AFP/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Farooq Naeem/AFP/Getty Images Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf inspects the honor guard during the farewell ceremony of the presidential palace in Islamabad on Aug. 18, 2008. Farooq Naeem/AFP/Getty Images Political Turmoil in Pakistan Who Will Replace Pervez Musharraf? Pakistan's constitution requires the country's parliament and provincial assemblies to elect a replacement for President Pervez Musharraf within 30 days. In the meantime, the chairman of the upper house of parliament, Mohammedmian Soomro, has taken over as acting president.

There is speculation that the leaders of the two main parties in the ruling coalition, Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, may both be considering a bid for the presidency. Neither man has announced his intentions. Both have said recently that they favored stripping away some of the powers that Musharraf garnered for the office during his nine-year rule, but a less-powerful presidency may also be less desirable to the political leaders. Alice Kreit/NPR Alice Kreit/NPR Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf resigned Monday morning in a live television address to the nation. Musharraf was a close U.S. ally in the volatile region and in the battle against al-Qaida. Musharraf's resignation came as the ruling coalition government was moving to impeach him. His allies were fast fading away, and he was under pressure at home and abroad to quit. As it became clear he had virtually no support, Pakistan's longtime leader chose to bow out. Looking somber, Musharraf spoke for an hour before finally making the announcement Pakistanis have been awaiting for days. No Impeachment Worries Musharraf said he was not worried about the impeachment but was leaving to avoid a confrontation that could damage the nation and the presidency.

Much of Musharraf's address was a defense of his record in office, but he acknowledged making mistakes and asked for Pakistan's forgiveness. It is not clear whether he will stay in Pakistan or go into exile. Musharraf has been pressing for immunity from prosecution. People celebrated Musharraf's departure outside offices of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest party in the coalition. They also honored the PPP's former leader, Benazir Bhutto, who was assassinated late last year. Musharraf's departure ends nearly nine turbulent years in office. "The real weakness of his, as I see it, is that he has never realized the importance of institutions," said political analyst Talat Masood. "He just leaves all the institutions of Pakistan so weak, including the political ones, who are to now run the affairs of the country." Musharraf seized power in a coup in 1999 after then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif tried to sack him as army chief. Musharraf's early days were rocky as he sought to solidify his position with an election and referendum that observers say were rigged. An Ally Of The U.S. After the Sept.

11 attacks, Musharraf became a firm ally of the U.S., which channeled billions of dollars to Pakistan in exchange for Musharraf's support in the war on terrorism. For a while, Musharraf seemed secure: The economy grew, relations with India improved, Pakistan's opposition parties were in disarray, and Musharraf's army was able to wield increasing influence over business and government. Then, according to political commentator Rasul Bakhsh Rais, Musharraf made a critical error. His undoing was his removal of the chief justice in March 2007, Rais says. "Onward, his standing was on shaky grounds, and the power began to slip away from him." Musharraf sought to oust Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry because Musharraf feared Pakistan's supreme court would raise legal barriers to his re-election as president. The move backfired. Lawyers and civil activists took to the streets demanding an independent judiciary, and one crisis followed another: There was public fury after more than 100 people were killed when Pakistani forces stormed the Red Mosque in Islamabad after it was taken over by extremists.

Then, in November, Musharraf declared a state of emergency — a six-week crackdown in which thousands of political activists were jailed, the media were gagged, and the general purged Pakistan's supreme court of his enemies. Rais says Musharraf was the author of his own undoing. "Musharraf was [a] hotheaded and impulsive political leader from Day 1 to the end," Rais says. "This was very unfortunate that he always put his personal ambitions ahead of the interests of the people of Pakistan." On the streets, few mourned Musharraf's departure. "For the last years he has been ruling the country, and he's been no good to it," said a banker who would give his name only as Ahmed. "So I think it is better that he has resigned and it's over now." Many Pakistanis felt Musharraf was far too close to the U.S., and many are simply sick of politics. They will be hoping that their new civilian government can now get on with the job and do something about Pakistan's unraveling economy and Islamist militancy.

Question: Who resigned as Prime Minister of Pakistan on 18 August 2008?
Answer: Pervez Musharraf