I worked in Pakistan as a consultant early in the 1990s when Prime Minister Navaz Sharif was in power. My analytical work with government development projects showed something of the connection between money and political power at the expense of socio-economic devleopment. I was in Islamabad when Benazir Bhutto led her 'long march' and converged on the city ... stopping only at the 11th hour in Rawalpindi a few miles away. Subsequently the allegations of corruption in her adminstration were very bothersome. I learned something of the p[rofessionalism of the Pakistan Army when I was in Islamabad ... maybe a superficial impression, and welcomed what appeared to me to be the 'seriousness' of the Pervaz Musharraf administration. While a military coup is not democratic ... the resulting administration might well have been better for the people of Pakistan.

Pervez Musharraf, 10th President of Pakistan In office 20 June 2001 – 18 August 2008

Pervez Musharraf (Urdu: پرویز مشرف, born 11 August 1943), is a retired four star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff and 10th President of Pakistan as well as 10th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrative military government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled Pakistan as Chief Executive from 1999–2001 and as President from 2001-08. In the face of impeachment, he resigned on 18 August 2008.

After years of military service, he rose to prominence when Prime Minister Navaz Sharif appointed him Chief of Army Staff in October 1998 when he super headed three most senior generals, notable General Ali Kuli Khan. Sharif appointed him as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, despite he was unqualified for the post as of the merit. This appointment of Sharif forced Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Fasih Bokhari to resign from the Navy who was rightfully deserving officer for this assignment. Musharraf was the strategic mastermind behind the Kargil infiltration and the provided a vital support to unannounced Pakistan war in Afghanistan where he sent thousands of Pakistan Army's young soldiers and paramilitary staff to participate in the war against the Northern Alliance. After months of contentious relations, he took power through a bloodless military coup on Sharif's democratically elected government, and placed in under house-arrest later shifted him Adiala Jail.

As Pakistan's head of state, he was a U.S. ally in the War on Terror. He was credited with the development of Pakistan's economy during the early years of his rule. His limited popularity suffered after his suspension of the Supreme Court Chief Justice and the Lal Masjid siege. His attempt to institute emergency rule failed as calls for his impeachment escalated. The return of Benazir Bhutto and Navaz Sharif from exile fast-tracked the nation towards parliamentary democracy ending Musharraf's reign.

In February 2011, a Pakistani court issued an arrest warrant for him because of his alleged involvement in assassination of Benazir Bhutto. As of June 2011, he lives in self-exile in London but has vowed to return for the next election. He has announced to return to Pakistan on 23 March, 2012.