I have seen Mr Musharraf closely just once. It was 25^thFebruary 2007. Basant festival was being celebrated in Garrison Golf Club Lahore. We had no idea that Mr President is coming. Security was very tight. The security men were rash, they thoroughly checked and then let us in. We also had to submit car keys and remote. If we had known, we had surely avoided it for our own safety. Being close with a man who is number one on the hit list of many, is a risky business.

It was just a few days before the president dismissed chief justice and this political crisis started in the country. Mr President was very powerful and confident.

He entered gracefully with a typical smile on his face, wearing sky blue shirt under brown coat. Governor Punjab Gen (R) Khalid Maqbool was on his one side and Corps Commander Lahore Lt Gen Shafaat Ullah Shah on the other. Begum Sehba had her own crowd of many Begums. She settled down while the president enjoyed himself with a tour of kite flying ground.

I was seeing an old historic misfortune of our leaders, the flatterer party. A soldier was flying a kite. A flatterer came forward, took the string from his hand and placed it in Musharraf`s hand. He was saying that I don’t know how to fly a kite but the flatterers did`nt listened. Another man rolled tape around his finger and started praising him for just holding the string of the kite which was already flying high.  

I was seeing all this from a distance of 5-6 meters. The president was shaking hands with army men and boys. He was kissing young girls on fore head. This all affection was shed in a circle of informally dressed security men holding guns, half their size, in their hands.

Army band was playing tunes for the president. He liked and gestured to play again with a monarchic dignity. He then came towards ladies and said aadab by pressing 

his right hand fingers on his fore head as a reply to their salams. There was a fine arrangement of lunch for the enjoying families but Mr President left before it was served.

His personality was I must say, impressive. But the thing we were concerned with was his leadership which was not sound. On that day Mr President was very relaxed and confident of himself. I believe that he did`nt had any idea, how his power will be challenged in a few days time. And on the same day next year he won`t be the army chief. He will be mere a weak president.

Good bye Mr. President. From now on you will reside in the history of this unfortunate nation which gets nothing from its leaders. 

By Haroon Muhammed Ashraf