Pervez Musharraf was a controversial figure in Pakistani politics, as his rule witnessed economic stability accompanied by widespread violations and a decline in democratic practice.
Musharraf was the last military leader to rule Pakistan, and his reign lasted nearly a decade after he took power in a bloodless coup in 1999.
His era was marred by repeated accusations of violations, most notably the arrest of his opponents and his accusation of involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
His decision to support the United States in its invasion of Afghanistan – albeit in the face of threats of bombing and in return for a massive infusion of aid, still reverberates.
“Musharraf has boosted education standards and infrastructure in Pakistan. He has brought development to the country,” student Muhammad Waqas, 24, told AFP in Islamabad.
“But on the other hand, the country suffered losses in the face of terrorism. Participation in the American war weakened our country,” he added.
Pakistan is going through yet another economic crisis, and political uncertainty ahead of elections scheduled for later this year.
In this upheaval, Musharraf is remembered fondly by some.
“He was a good ruler,” said Muhammad Khan, 70, a shopkeeper in Islamabad. “There has never been a leader like him before and there will never be a leader like him again.”
As for Pervez Elahi, a veteran Pakistani politician and ally of Musharraf, he believes in a statement to AFP that “he was a wise leader who loved hard work and appreciated new initiatives.”
In 2006, US President George W. Bush described Musharraf at the height of their alliance as “a powerful and influential leader who has become a target for those who cannot tolerate the notion of moderation”.
Suspension of the constitution
However, his move to overthrow an elected government and suspend the constitution for long periods also forms a large part of his legacy.
In this regard, retired civil servant Naim al-Haq Sati told AFP, “His only act that will remain in memory throughout history is his violation of the constitution.”
“The most important thing in any country is its constitution,” the 69-year-old adds.
Pervez Musharraf’s crackdown on his opponents intensified when he faced mounting pressure to hold democratic elections.
He suspended the constitution for a second time in 2007, arrested thousands of dissidents, and sacked the chief justice, leading to widespread protests.
“General Musharraf was one of the military dictators who misruled the country by… attracting a group of sycophants,” businessman Abdul Basit told AFP in Quetta, capital of Balochistan province.
Under Musharraf, Pakistan escalated its war against Baloch separatists, launching a military operation that resulted in the killing of separatist leader Akbar Bugti in 2006, an assassination that further inflamed the separatist movement.
“People give credit to General Musharraf for developing the country, but on the other hand, like his predecessors, he caused destruction,” Abdul Basit added.
Musharraf stepped down in 2008 and faced years of legal wrangling, before he was convicted in absentia and sentenced to death for treason, only to have the sentence overturned at a later time.
The former ruler spent his last days in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, after failing to return to politics and finding himself and his party, the All-Pakistan Muslim League, on the sidelines of the political scene.
