Gen Musharraf’s Namaz-i-Janaza offered amid tight security

The Namaz-i-Janaza (funeral prayers) of former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf were offered in Karachi on Tuesday amid strict security measures, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A large number of serving and retired army officials and family members of the late president attended the funeral prayers, offered at Malir Cantt. He will be buried at Army Graveyard.

Prayers were held at the grounds of a military compound in Karachi in a ceremony attended by around 10,000 people, mostly retired and serving military officers, an AFP reporter observed.

Neither the serving army chief, the prime minister, nor the president attended the funeral, which was not officially announced by the military or government and was not aired on local television channels.

Musharraf’s body was brought to Pakistan through a special plane Monday night. The special plane landed at terminal 1 of the Karachi Airport, also carrying former president’s wife Sehba Musharraf, son Bialal Musharraf and daughter Ayla Musharraf. 

Before take-off from the UAE, Musharraf’s body was given Ghusl (ritual washing and shrouding of the deceased ahead of burial) in Sonapur, Dubai, where he breathed his last at the age of 79.

The mortal remains of the ex-army chief departed from Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai and landed at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport at around 9:45 pm yesterday.

Aircraft A319 was assigned the task of bringing the last remains of the ex-army chief and the aircraft had been given “special flight” status. The craft is owned by Complex Aviation Malta and is about 14 years old.

Upon arrival, the plane was parked near the old terminal at the airport. The body and the aggrieved family were then taken to their destination from the old terminal under tight security.

It is pertinent to mention here that the former president’s mother was buried in Dubai while his father was laid to rest in Karachi.

Reporter Nauman Kayani

With inputs from AFP.