ISLAMABAD (APP) -- After remaining in power for almost a decade over one of the most turbulent countries in the world, Pervez Musharraf Monday stepped down, but dismissing all allegations levelled against him by the ruling coalition. Like the central character in a Shakespearian tragedy, Musharraf met the filial ingratitude both at the hands of the party -- PML(Q) -- he nurtured and his friends, who silently began to abandon him as soon as he handed over the command of Pakistan Army to Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.

A soldier by profession and a commando, supporters believed till the end that he will strike back. An expert in psy-warfare, Musharraf showed his strong nerves and kept the opponents on toes till his farewell address.
He remained defiant till the end saying “No charge sheet can stand against me. Not even a single charge can be proven against me as I have full trust in Allah Almighty and I did everything with the belief of Pakistan First.”
Hours before the Parliament was scheduled to meet, Pervez Musharraf bid adieu to his countrymen; to end confrontation between the state institutions with a prayer; “May Allah protect Pakistan.”
Musharraf who ousted the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a bloodless coup in Oct 1999 enjoyed absolute power till the Feb 18 election, where his party got trounced, bringing in a shaky coalition of PPP and PML-N.
Musharraf during his stint as the President served as a shrewd politician, a person with tactful reasoning and deep understanding, reflecting complete command over all the institutions.
Musharraf’s vision of leadership was clearly spelt out on his website, where he quotes Napoleon as saying; “besides all qualities a leader has to be lucky to succeed. Therefore, I must succeed.”
In an interview with Al-Jazeera early in 2007 what he would like his legacy as president of Pakistan to be, Pervez Musharraf said he wanted to be remembered as a “reformer and developer”.
“Pakistanis must remember me as a reformer and developer, someone who saved them from catastrophe and introduced sustainable democracy,” he said.
A recipient of Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military), Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) and Tamgha-i-Basalat, Musharraf served with the elite Special Services Group for seven years.
He carried with him a Glock pistol for protection and survived at least three serious assassination attempts. His luck however ran out when confronted with a bunch of equally shrewd politicians, leaving him with little option; either to face impeachment or resign from his post.
Son of middle class, educated and working parents, who migrated from India to Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf was born on August 11, 1943 in Delhi, India.
He received his early education from Saint Patrick’s School in Karachi after his family migrated to Pakistan. He studied at the Forman Christian College in Lahore.
He accompanied his father who was serving the country’s Foreign Office in Turkey from 1949 to 1956.
Musharraf joined Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul in 1961 and was commissioned in 1964 in the (16 SP) Self Propelled artillery unit. Later, he volunteered to join the Special Services Group and was posted to Field Artillery Regiments.
A graduate of the Staff College, Quetta, and National Defence College, Rawalpindi, Musharraf also studied at the Royal College of Defence Studies in the United Kingdom.
He saw his first action in the 1965 Indo-Pak war in Khem Karan as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 16 (SP) Field Artillery Regiment., Lahore and Sialkot sectors and was awarded the Imtiaz-i-Sanad for gallantry.
During the Indo-Pakistan War in 1971, he served as a Company Commander in the SSG Commando Battalion.
On promotion to the rank of Major General on January 15, 1991, he was assigned the command of an Infantry Division. He served as Director General Military Operations from 1993 to 1995.
On promotion to Lieutenant General on October 21, 1995, he took over command of 1 Corps, the elite strike Corps.
In 1998, following the resignation of General Jehangir Karamat, he was promoted over other senior officers by the than Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and took over as Chief of Army Staff.
On April 9, 1999, he was given the additional charge of Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee which he relinquished in October 2001.
General Musharraf came into power on October 12, 1999 after ousting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as Chief Executive.
On May 12, 2000, the Supreme Court ordered Musharraf to hold General Election by October 12, 2002. He assumed the charge of President of Pakistan after the removal of Rafiq Tarar on June 20, 2001.
Musharraf held a referendum on April 30, 2002 to extend the presidential term to five years after the October election.
General election was held in October 2002 and the PML-Q won majority seats.
Things however slid downhill since March 9, when he suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, followed by the operation at Lal Masjid and the re-exile of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Musharraf secured an overwhelming majority of votes from the parliamentarians in the presidential election on Oct 6, 2007 by securing 252 votes out of 257, in the electoral college.
Musharraf in his capacity as Army Chief imposed state of emergency across the country on November 3, 2007 on a plea to safeguard the national interests and counter growing terrorism.
The Supreme Court on November 23, validated the re-election of Pervez Musharraf as president for another five years.
Musharraf relinquished the charge of Chief of the Army Staff on Nov 28, 2007 and handed over the coveted post to General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, a day ahead of taking oath as a civilian President for a five-year term.
“This army is my life, my passion ... I love this army,” the President said while addressing the gathering of military officers and jawans at the Army Stadium prior to handing over the command.
Attired in the khaki ceremonial dress, Musharraf handed over the traditional command stick to Kayani, a formality signifying the change of command.
“I am lucky that I have commanded the best army of the world,” he said.
Musharraf married Sehba on Dec 27, 1968 and has two children; Ayla and Bilal Musharraf. Ayla, Director of a Music Academy in Karachi has two daughters