Musharraf showed leadership qualities quite earlier: Zarin

President General Pervez Musharraf showed leadership qualities quite early in his life as he was gifted with a lively 'questioning spirit and a logical mind,' that also made him excel in Mathematics, his mother Zarin Musharraf said in an interview. Zarin also recalled some of the fond memories of the President's childhood in the interview aired on Saturday, saying he was good at sports as well.
"Musharraf distinguished himself as a leader in his age group and developed the quality of logical thinking quite early in his childhood," she told private Tv channel.
Recollecting some characteristics of his personality, the President's mother stated that he secured first class marks in Mathematics throughout his educational career.
In sports, Musharraf was agile and particularly good at squash and cricket, which he would play with his friends and school fellows on the streets of Delhi, where the family had lived before moving to Pakistan.
"Kheer was the President's all time favourite sweet dish," mother said.
"Whenever, he would return home from school or play, he would ask for Kheer, he savoured it so much that we made sure that it was always available," she told interviewer.
The President's mother recounted how her husband, late Syed Musharraf Uddin, and she raised their kids in an environment marked by strict discipline, moral value and an abiding focus on the development of their all round personalities.
"We inculcated in them the habit of reading quality books, we used to buy a lot of good books for our kids at the same time we maintained discipline and led a simple life for educating kids in the best of institutions," she said.
Zarin, who had a long successful career as teacher, said her advice to parents of the present generation would be to inspire them with the habit of reading books.
Besides his own desire and family's willingness, General Musharraf's decision to join the Army as a young officer also owed to the inspiring grace and dignity of the uniform, she said.
On General Musharraf's assuming responsibilities of the highest office of the country - the President, Zarin said, she prayed for his success in serving the nation with full dedication.
"May Allah Almighty help and guide him in serving the nation as for dangers, everything and indeed, life and death are in the hands of the Creator."