He also decided against extending patronage to the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan. This was the period of Musharraf's rise at home as well as abroad. But the battle-scarred armyman who reportedly often carries a Glock pistol, earned the wrath of extremist elements in his country and was the target of at least three assassination attempts.
The dismissal of Pakistan Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on March 9, 2007, on charges of abuse of office, nationwide protests by lawyers and opposition parties, marking the beginning of decline of Musharraf's regime.
His decision to send troops to storm the radical Lal Masjid in Islamabad on July 10, 2007, -- an operation that killed over 100 people -- further intensified terror strikes, including suicide bombings in the country.
However, his move to impose emergency on November 3, 2007, suspending the Constitution, detaining hundreds of political protestors and sacking the Supreme Court judges who were to decide whether he was eligible to stand for presidential election in uniform, hastened his downfall.
Image: An army helicopter carrying Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, leaves the presidency after his resignation in Islamabad on August 18, 2008.
Photographs: Farooq Naeem/AFP/Getty Images
Also read: 'Next round of battle for power in Pak will begin soon'
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