An emotional Musharraf says his goodbyes

New Delhi: It was the General's last hurrah as army chief. Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf said his goodbyes to the men who form his most faithful constituency, after 46 years in the forces out of which nine long and eventful years at their helm.
"This army is my life, my passion. I love this army. The relationship will always be there but I will not be in uniform. I'm sad over this," he said, while bidding goodbye.
And as he handed over the baton to his vice-chief and close confidante, the New Chief of Army staff General Ashfaq Kiyani, Musharraf's sadness is tinged with a sense of loss.
Without the uniform, Musharraf's authority in his next term as President can only be less than the one he has completed and politicians have already started making it clear that stepping down isn't enough.
Former Pakistan prime minister, Benazir Bhutto said, "As mentioned, the political prisoners should be freed and there should be an independent election commission. If this giant step is going to be taken, then why not take other steps that can have other good effects?"

Reports indicate that the President may revoke the Emergency order in the next couple of days, in an effort to avoid an Opposition boycott of elections in January.
However, his battles with militancy, and civil society remain, battles that could bring the now retired general to pine.