General Pervez Musharraf in conversation with Sir Christopher Meyer

Pervez Musharraf

Former President of Pakistan (2001-2008)

The former holder of Time magazine’s ‘most dangerous job in the world’, the Presidency of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf served in the role for nine years before his resignation in 2008. A veteran of the 1965 war with India, Musharraf worked his way up the political and military ranks to become General and Army Chief of Staff in 1998 before ascending to the Presidency in a bloodless coup in 1999. A one-time supporter of the Taliban, he took a hard line turn against militant Islam following the September 11th attacks and became, at significant personal risk, a key ally in America’s “war on terror”.

His autobiography, In the Line of Fire, is a candid account of his years at the helm of Pakistan; it reveals his efforts to break up Al Qaeda in the cities and tribal areas of Pakistan, his dealings with Bush and Blair, and the ongoing nuclear conflict between Pakistan and India.

Musharraf is currently residing in London, which is where he launched his own political party, the ‘All Pakistan Muslim League’, in June 2010. Musharraf has specified a return to Pakistan on March 23, 2012 in order to contend for the 2013 Presidency.