Pervez Musharraf

Who is he: Pervez Musharraf led a military government in Pakistan from 1999 untill 2008. When Musharraf resigned and left the country he eventually ended up in London, where he has now formed a new political party called the All Pakistan Muslim League. Musharraf intends to return to Pakistan to run for president once again.

Pervez Musharraf was popular in the early part of his term; however, when he attempted to institute emergency rule in 2007, his troubles began. In February 2011, an arrest warrant was issued, alleging his involvement with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

The turning point in Pervez Musharraf's presidency came after the September 11, 2001 attacks, when the US demanded Musharraf's cooperation and he agreed to allow the United States to gain access to three airbases in Pakistan that would be used to attack Afghanistan and the Taliban.

In a 2006 interview with Steve Kroft on "60 Minutes," Musharraf claimed that US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage had called after the 9/11 attacks to say Pakistan would be subject to military action if Musharaff did not support the US's gathering "war on terror." Then-Secretary of State Colin Powell reportedly told him, "You are with us or against us." Armitage has since denied Musharraf's statement.

Background: Pervez Musharraf was born on August 11, 1943 and spent his early years growing up in the old walled city in Delhi. Musharraf's family was in politics as well. Musharraf later attended Forman Christian College in Lahore, where he excelled in mathematics.

Musharraf graduated in the top portion of his class from Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul and received a commission in 1964 for the Artillery Regiment. Musharraf was involved in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, where he exhibited courage and became known for staying at his post even when it was under shellfire.

In 1998, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif promoted him over others to Army Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. One year later, Musharraf made his move and took over as president. Prime Minister Sharif tried to put Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director Ziauddin Butt in power, but was opposed by the military. Sharif was placed under house arrest. Musharraf declared himself president in June 2001.

In November 2007, Pervez Musharraf declared emergency rule, suspended the Constitution and imposed a state of emergency. Musharraf also fired the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court again. His moves were not well received. In August 2008, the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League pressured Musharraf to step down as president and started moves to impeach him. That same month Musharraf resigned.

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