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'Every Good Thing Comes to an End'

Musharraf Steps Down as Head of Pakistan's Army

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has given in to demands from the US and his political opposition and stepped down as head of the army. The move clears the way for him to be sworn in as a civilian president -- and possibly lift the state of emergency.

AP

A tearful Musharraf stepped down as army head Wednesday, musing that "everything is mortal."

In a ceremony held at army headquarters in Rawalpindi Wednesday and broadcast live on national television, a clearly emotional Musharraf handed over a symbolic baton to his hand-picked successor, General Ashfaq Kayani. The move comes a day before Musharraf is to be sworn in as a civilian president and fulfills his long-delayed promise -- which many Pakistanis doubted he would keep -- not to hold both positions.

The general, dressed in full military uniform complete with a row of medals and a green sash, appeared to be on the verge of tears as he reviewed the ranks to the mournful sound of the Scottish song "Auld Lang Syne." "(You) are the saviors of Pakistan," Musharraf told his troops in a final speech. "I will no longer command ... but my heart and my mind will always be with you," he said, adding that "every good thing comes to an end, everything is mortal."

Musharraf has served as president while keeping his position as head of the army since seizing power in a coup in 1999. He had promised to step down as head of the armed forces in 2004, but failed to do so, claiming the country needed strong leadership to combat Islamic extremism.

Pressure on Musharraf to step down as army chief had come from both the US government -- Musharraf's main backer -- and Pakistan's opposition. His move may defuse a possible boycott of January's parliamentary elections which was threatened by the opposition parties of the former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif, who returned from exile in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, and Benazir Bhutto. Both Sharif's and Bhutto's parties welcomed Musharraf's resignation Wednesday.

The general had been re-elected as president in October by parliament, but Pakistan's Supreme Court held up his confirmation due to his status as head of the army. The country's constitution forbids the army head from serving as president.

Musharraf reacted by proclaiming a state of emergency on Nov. 3. There is speculation that Musharraf may lift the state of emergency after he is sworn in for a second five-year term as president on Thursday, although he has yet to say when the emergency will be lifted.

Observers expect Musharraf's resignation as army chief will lessen his influence, although as civilian president he will retain considerable powers.

dgs/ap/reuters

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