Musharraf steps down as Pak Army chief

President Musharraf bade farewell to the army after serving the force for over four decades, saying he was feeling a 'little sad'.

Heeding to domestic and international pressures to give up dual posts, Pakistan8217;s military ruler Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday stepped down as Army Chief after a nine-year reign, handing over the baton to his trusted deputy Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani before taking oath as a civilian President on Thursday.

The 8220;change of command8221; ceremony, replete with military pomp and traditions, was held at a stadium in the army8217;s General Headquarters in the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi.

Ending a 46-year career in the army, Musharraf formally handed over the charge to Kiyani, the 52-year-old former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency who was hand-picked by him last month to head the 500,000-strong force.

8220;I am saddened that I will not be in uniform from tomorrow and it is difficult to express my feelings in words,8221; Musharraf, a former commando, said in his farewell address.

8220;After being in uniform for 46 years, I am saying goodbye to this force. This army is my life, my passion, I have been in love with this force,8221; the Pakistani President said.

Musharraf, 64, was appointed Army Chief on October 7, 1998 by then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who promoted him over several other officers. The two men soon fell out over differences on several issues, including the incursion into the Kargil area of Jammu and Kashmir, and Musharraf seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999.

Earlier, Musharraf was welcomed by Kiyani to the ceremony at the Hockey Stadium near the General Headquarters. An army band played the national anthem before Musharraf reviewed a marching parade comprising contingents from the Frontier Force and Azad Kashmir Force.

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Musharraf8217;s address was followed by a performance by a brass band and a drum solo, after which he handed over the 8220;change of command8221; baton to Kiyani.

The military ruler shook hands with members of the audience, including several retired officers, before leaving the stadium with Kiyani.

Regarded as a Musharraf loyalist, Kiyani was promoted as the Vice chief of Army Staff on October 2. The chain-smoking career soldier managed to beat several fellow corps commanders in a closely fought race for the top slot of Army.

Kiyani, who always kept a low public profile, was replaced as the ISI chief on September 21 in a reshuffle of the top Army brass. He had worked closely with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto as her military secretary and was the chief negotiator in her talks with Musharraf for a political rapprochement.

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An avid golfer and a keen sportsman, Kiyani is married and has a son and a daughter.