DATE=10/13/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=PAK GENERAL
NUMBER=5-44490
BYLINE=SCOTT ANGER
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was
quickly ousted Tuesday in a bloodless coup by the
powerful Chief of Army staff General Pervez Musharraf,
who is a professional commando and a veteran of two of
Pakistan's wars with India. As VOA's Scott Anger
reports, the general has risen through Pakistan's
military ranks and now leads one of the world's newest
nuclear powers.
TEXT: During an early morning appearance on
Pakistan's state-run television, about 9 hours after
he was removed as army chief by Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif, General Pervez Musharraf seemed to be in firm
control of the country.
///Musharraf Act///
I wish to inform you that the armed forces have moved
in as a last resort. For the moment, I only wish to
assure you that the situation in the country is
perfectly calm, stable and under control.
///End Act///
Pakistan's military chief, and now its leader, has
served Pakistan since 1964, when he joined an army
artillery regiment and was sent to fight Indian troops
in the Punjab during the 16-day war in 1965. That
year, he received a medal for gallantry.
In 1971, Pakistan again went to war with India and Mr.
Musharraf - who was trained as a commando - was a
member of the elite military Special Services Group.
During his rise through the Pakistani Army ranks, Mr.
Musharraf held senior staff positions, commanding
armored divisions and infantry brigades. In 1995, as
a lieutenant-general, he served as commander of an
important military area close to the border with
India.
Ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif promoted General
Musharraf to Army Chief of Staff in 1998, after the
existing chief, General Jehangir Karamat, stepped down
for making remarks critical of Mr. Sharif.
Born in New Delhi, India in August 1943, Mr. Musharraf
received his early education in the port city, Karachi
after he and his family migrated to Pakistan which was
carved out of British India in 1947. (SIGNED)
NEB/SA/PLM
13-Oct-1999 05:03 AM EDT (13-Oct-1999 0903 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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