I came close to death five times: Musharraf

ISLAMABAD, JULY 2. The Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, considers himself ``lucky,'' having had a miraculous escape from death almost five times in his career spanning forty years.

In an interview to the Pakistan daily, The News he said his first brush with death came during the 1965 war with India when a shell hit his gun.

``By the grace of Allah, I have been very lucky. It was a miracle that I escaped,'' he said.

The second time he had a close shave with death was in 1972. ``I was in the commandos, in the northern areas. I was in Gilgit and was thinking of going on leave to Rawalpindi by air. Meanwhile, two of our jawans were killed in an avalanche and we decided to stay back,'' he said, adding the Fokker plane in which he planned to return crashed and was never found.

His third brush with death came when he closely missed being the military secretary to the former President, Zia-Ul-Haq, who was later killed in a plane crash. ``During the time when I was commander, artillery, in 1987-88, President Zia selected me for the position of his military secretary. I got this message and was told that I should be ready to move at short notice. After waiting 3-4 days I didn't get the call and instead Brigadier Najeeb was selected.

``I was upset... but had I been selected, I would've been killed, as was Brig. Najeeb who was in the C-130 crash'' Gen. Musharraf said.

The fourth time too he survived another major accident. ``Another incident cropped up when I was a Lt-Gen. And serving as Corps. Commander, Mangla. I had come by road to Rawalpindi from Mangla and there was an aviation officer who was taking a helicopter back to the place.

``He knew that I was in Pindi officially and wanted to know if I would fly back with him. I would have preferred it but was invited by a friend to stop over. So I went to his office in Lalazar. Unfortunately the chopper crashed. That is why I say I have been lucky,'' he said in an interview, extracts of which were published today.

The Pakistani President, however, has not spoken about his fifth escape he had on the day the military coup took place on October 12, 1999, during which he ousted the deposed Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif. The General had gone to attend the 50th year anniversary celebrations of the Sri Lankan army. On his return from Colombo, his plane, low on fuel, had been declined permission to land in Karachi or any other Pakistan airport.

The plane, however, was permitted to land after the troops took over the airport in Karachi, minutes before it ran out of fuel.

The General's wife Ms. Sehba who was also present at the interview said the events of October 12 made the general take his rare tea and cigarette.

The Pakistan President Gen. Musharraf has also said that he has no ego problems and was open to criticism.

``I'm the type who immediately has to express himself and his feelings. I think you should never keep your thoughts to yourself but should talk it out with the other person, frankly and very honestly'', he said.

The full interview was expected to be published tomorrow.

- PTI

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