By Raza Bukhari, Friend Pervez Mushharaff:
The President Musharraf I know

Dear Pakistan:
When I first met Former President Musharraf in January of 2009, I had no idea how far I would travel under his umbrella and how much I would learn from him and change for the better, both professionally and personally. I lost my father not too long after meeting President Musharraf for the first time and his presence in my life over the last four years has been that of a father figurecomforting, reassuring and stabilizing. Not to say that I didnt (and sometimes still do) experience what the Office of General Pervez Musharraf has come to refer to as the Musharraf Effect. A perfectly composed thought comes out as a jumble of words, a skilled golfer becomes a hacker and a confident, accomplished person turns in to a sweaty ball of nerves. Im still not sure if he ever realizes the person in front of him is falling apart, as he continues to engage in the even-keeled, down to earth and relatable manner, for which he is well known. In the many trips he made to the United States to attend a variety of speaking engagements, lectures, and media forums, what became very evident was President Musharrafs knack for interacting with people from all walks of life with great ease. Whether its the aspiring student at a highly reputable university, a political leader or an enthusiastic supporter, he is very comfortable in his skin, has a curiosity for the unknown and the new that underscores his intelligence and mental acuity. What is also very evident is his ability to command the attention of an audience and to sell out events. The first time I heard him speak was at a 2009 event hosted by World Affairs Council Philadelphia. Speaking to a packed hall, he relayed the issues plaguing Pakistan, its place on the world stage and his hopes and vision for it. It was clear then and it is still the case today, Pakistan is in his blood. Although he enjoys life to the fullest, he eats, sleeps and breathes Pakistan. Quite often, I would see him lost in deep thought as the rest of us conversed around him and Id often wonder if it was a sense of longing to be back on Pakistans soil that kept him so preoccupied. He is also very quick to defend his nation. I still vividly remember the sold out event hosted by the distinguished 92Y in July 2011, in which President Musharraf sat in conversation with Gideon Rose, the editor of Foreign Affairs, on the future of Pakistan. After the event, we had two words for the Former President, On Fire. In small roundtables with relevant opinion makers in Washington DC, he impresses with his clarity of thought, logical, well reasoned and pragmatic answers to the tough questions he faces. On both appearances on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the President displayed his sense of humor, and ability to enjoy a laugh at his own expense. Another instance that comes to mind is his January 2013 live interview with an Indian news anchor. The Former Presidents passionate and fiery defense of Pakistan forced the anchor to exit much quicker than the scheduled interview end time. The video went viral in Pakistan within hours and earned him grudging acknowledgement from even his harshest criticsthe Pakistani media. Irrespective of who it is, President Musharraf holds his own. The private side of the Former President took me quite by pleasant surprise. Hes a great story teller, narrating events from his childhood, teen years and early army days with wit, humor and my favoritea tinge of sarcasm. His retrospective voice often takes a note of I cant believe I pulled that off and survived! He is an out of the box thinker, and is always armed with an amusing, off the cuff remark. Post event or meeting briefs often had me stifling giggles. He is forthright and honest and will never beat around the bush when he has a point to make. He will also rarely back down when he believes he is right. Ive been a lucky witness to many a debate between himself and Raza Bokhari, international spokesperson to the Former President; debates which have ranged from the complicated state of affairs in Pakistan to something as simple as grammar. Again, there is much hilarity in watching the tennis match of words and ideas between the two. One of my favorite moments of knowing President Musharraf was watching him tweet for the first time.
. He is also acutely aware of peoples behavior around him, highly observant, and thoughtful. One year, in the middle of a jam-packed lecture schedule, he spent an hour thinking through and hand-writing a recommendation for me to submit with my MBA application. On another trip, I recall him turning to me and asking if all the traveling around we were doing was not affecting my studies. With all that was on his mind, he took the time to stop and check-in. He has gently chided me for not wearing a coat when it was cold, scolded me for being a back seat driver and remembered to send me well wishes despite being thousands of miles away. President Musharrafs charm lies in that he is as human as he is stately. It has both been a pleasure and an honor to know and work for him for the last few years. My wish for him is that no one and nothing dims his light and his persona for many, many years to come. I know that my world, and for many more like me, has been much better for his presence in it.