Former President General (retd) Pervez Musharraf passed away in American Hospital Dubai at the age of 79, his family confirmed on Sunday.
The former military ruler was undergoing treatment for an ailment at American Hospital Dubai.
Musharraf was born on 11 August 1943 in Delhi, British India. He got his commission from the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul on 19 April 1961.
Musharraf joined the Pakistan Army in 1964 and quickly rose through the ranks.
He was promoted to the rank of general in 1998 and took over as the chief of army staff (COAS).
He served in several important positions, including as Director-General of Military Operations and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. In October 1999, he was appointed as the Prime Minister of Pakistan by then-President Nawaz Sharif.
In 1999, Musharraf led a successful military coup against Sharif, taking control of the government and declaring martial law. He assumed the presidency in June 2001, after holding a controversial referendum to legitimize his rule.
During his presidency, Musharraf implemented a number of political, economic, and social reforms aimed at modernizing Pakistan and improving its international standing. He also aligned Pakistan with the United States in the War on Terror and provided support for the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
Musharraf’s presidency was marked by controversy and opposition, particularly from political parties and civil society groups who accused him of suppressing dissent and violating human rights.
He faced several attempts to remove him from power, including an impeachment attempt in 2008. He resigned from the presidency in August 2008 and went into self-exile in London.
In 2016, Musharraf returned to Pakistan and attempted to run for office, but was barred from doing so by the courts. He faced several legal challenges, including treason charges, but was granted bail in several cases.
The former military ruler was sentenced to death by a special court on December 17, 2019, under Article 6 of the Constitution. A case of high treason was filed against him during Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) tenure.
Musharraf was present in the court on March 31, 2016, when he was indicted on the charges.
Later, he flew out of the country due to his illness.
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