Pakistan has been under dictator’s rule thrice. In 1958, Field Marshal Ayub Khan seized power through a coup against Iskandar Mirza. In March 1969, gave control of Pakistan to General Yahya Khan. In 1977, General Zia-ul-Haq became the military ruler of Pakistan, overthrowing Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. And in 1999, Musharraf seized power in Pakistan in a coup against Nawaz Sharif. Here is a look at some of the most powerful dictators in the world:

Suharto, was an Indonesian military leader, and the second President of Indonesia, holding the office from 1967 to 1998. According to Transparency International, Suharto embezzled more money than any other world leader in history with estimated US $15-35 billion embezzlement during his 32 years rule. He resigned from Presidency in 1998 and died on January 27, 2008 after his family agreed to remove life support machines that had sustained him after almost all his organ functions had failed.

Saddam Hussein was the President of Iraq from July 16, 1979 until April 9, 2003. Saddam was deposed by the US and its allies during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Saddam was brought to trial under the Iraqi interim government set up by US-led forces. On November 5, 2006, he was convicted of charges related to the executions of 148 Iraqi Shi’ites suspected of planning an assassination attempt against him, and was sentenced to death by hanging. Saddam was executed on December 30, 2006.

Augusto Jose Ramon Pinochet Ugarte was a Chilean military officer and dictator. He was President of the Government Junta of Chile from 1973 to 1974 and, by decree of the Junta, President of Chile from 1974 until the return of civilian rule in 1990. Pinochet’s regime has been accused of systematic and widespread human rights violations both in Chile and abroad, including mass-murder, torture, kidnapping, illegal detention, and censorship of the press. Pinochet died after suffering a heart attack on December 3, 2006.

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