Former President Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s last military leader whom he made an ally of the United States in the fight against al-Qaeda, died in Dubai aged 79 after a long illness, the local army said.
Seized power in a coup in 1999 and ruling Pakistan until 2008, this four-star general proclaimed himself president in June 2001, holding the position at the time of the September 11 attacks on the United States.
The cigar smoker and whiskey drinker, initially perceived as a moderate, has established himself as Washington’s most important regional ally in the fight against al-Qaeda. He escaped at least three assassination attempts by this organization.
Pakistani President Arif Alvi prayed “for the eternal rest of the soul of the deceased and for the bereaved to have the courage to bear this loss,” his office said in a statement.
Senior military officials “express their sincere condolences on the death of General Pervez Musharraf,” the army press service said.
The former head of state, who was being forced from power under threat of impeachment, died on Sunday morning, media and a senior security official said.
“I can confirm that the late general breathed his last in Dubai this morning… He is no more,” said the source, who asked not to be named, Agence France-Press (AFP) reported.
The “War on Terror”
During its nine years in power, Pakistan has seen its economic growth accelerate, its middle class expand, the media become more liberal and the army play the appeasement card against rival India.
“Under Musharraf, Pakistan’s decision to join the war on terror has proved a boon,” noted analyst Hasan Askari, citing the influx of international aid the country has received as a result.
“He will remain as someone who has presided over Pakistan at a very critical moment,” Mr Askari added in an interview with AFP.
Pervez Musharraf, a former elite commander born in Delhi on August 11, 1943, four years before the partition of Pakistan, was Chief of Army Staff when he overthrew the civilian government of Nawaz Sharif without bloodshed in October 1999.
He declared himself president in June 2001 before winning a controversial referendum in April 2002.
In 2016 he moved to Dubai
Following the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in December 2007, he was isolated by his allies’ crushing losses in the 2008 elections.
He was forced to resign in August 2008 under pressure from the judiciary and the election-winning coalition, which had shown its willingness to initiate impeachment proceedings against him.
In 2013 he interrupted a luxurious voluntary exile to try to return to power. However, his candidacy was invalidated and the election was won by Nawaz Sharif, the man he overthrew in 1999.
He came to Dubai in 2016 for medical treatment for amyloidosis, a rare disease that affects vital organs.
In 2019, a special court sentenced Pervez Musharraf to death in absentia on charges of “treason” after he declared a state of emergency in 2007. However, his sentence was overturned soon after.