Former president and ex-chief of army staff General (retd) Pervez Musharraf died at 79 in Dubai on Sunday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The former president was under treatment in American Hospital, Dubai. He had been suffering from an incurable disease for a long period of time.
He was born on August 11, 1943 in Delhi and moved to Karachi in 1947. He studied at St. Patrick’s High School, Karachi and Forman Christian College, Lahore.
Musharraf got commission in Pakistan Army in 1961. He was also a graduate of Army Staff and Command College, Quetta. He also took part in the wars of 1965 and 1971.
Pervez Musharraf became the chief of army staff on October 7, 1998.
On October 12, 1999, then prime minister Nawaz Sharif removed him from his position and appoint Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Ziauddin Butt as the army chief.
But, the top leadership of the army rejected the dismissal of Pervez Musharraf as the army chief. They deposed Nawaz Sharif and seized power under martial law. Pervez Musharraf became the chief executive of the country.
On May 20, 2000, the Supreme Court of Pakistan asked Pervez Musharraf to hold elections in 2002.
After the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, Musharraf accepted the US offer to become its frontline ally in the war against terrorism.
In order to prolong and secure its rule, he got himself elected formally as the president through a referendum on April 30, 2002.
In 2004, by introducing 17th amendment to the Constitution, he was elected as the president of Pakistan for five years.
Pervez Musharraf took many unpopular measures during his tenure, due to which he faced strong opposition.
On November 3, 2007, by imposing a state of emergency in the country, judges of the Supreme Court who did not take oath under the Legal Framework Order (LFO) were deposed and placed under house arrest.
Upon this, the lawyers started a movement against him after which then chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry was reinstated.
On August 18, 2008, Pervez Musharraf resigned as the president and left the country.
Later in life, Musharraf lived in self-imposed exile in Dubai to avoid criminal charges, despite attempting a political comeback in 2012. But it wasn’t to be as his poor health plagued his last years. He maintained a soldier’s fatalism after avoiding a violent death that always seemed to be stalking him as Islamic militants twice targeted him for assassination.
“I have confronted death and defied it several times in the past because destiny and fate have always smiled on me,” Musharraf once wrote. “I only pray that I have more than the proverbial nine lives of a cat.”
He was charged with treason. On December 17, 2019, a special Pakistani court sentenced him to death on treason charges.
Musharraf’s family announced in June 2022 that he had been hospitalised for weeks in Dubai while suffering from amyloidosis, an incurable condition that sees proteins build up in the body’s organs.
“Going through a difficult stage where recovery is not possible and organs are malfunctioning,” the family said. They later said he also needed access to the drug daratumumab, which is used to treat multiple myeloma. That bone marrow cancer can cause amyloidosis.
Shazia Siraj, a spokeswoman for the Pakistani Consulate in Dubai, confirmed his death and said diplomats were providing support to his family. The Pakistani military also offered its condolences.
President Arif Alvi expresses condolences
President Arif Alvi expressed condolences over the demise of Pervez Musharraf.
He prayed for the forgiveness of the departed soul and grant of patience to the bereaved family.
PM Shehbaz expresses condolences
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences over the death of Pervez Musharraf.
He expressed sympathy with the family of the deceased and prayed for the rest of the departed soul in eternal peace.
CJCSC, services chiefs express condolences
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad Mirza expressed condolences over the death of former president and ex-chief of army staff General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the chiefs of three military services also expressed condolences over the demise of Pervez Musharraf.
“May Allah forgive the deceased and give patience to the bereaved family. Ameen,” the services chiefs said in their message.
Nawaz Sharif’s response
Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif wrote: “To God we belong and to Him we shall return” on his Twitter handle.
Shashi Tharoor’s response
Indian politician Shashi Tharoor admired the efforts of Pervez Musharraf for peace with India between 2002 and 2007.
Maleeha Lodhi prays for departed soul
Former ambassador of Pakistan to the United Nations (UN) Maleeha Lodhi prayed for rest of the departed soul in peace.
Sadiq Sanjrani expresses grief
Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani expressed grief over the demise of Pervez Musharraf.