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 at the age of 79 following a long illness, the army announced on Sunday.
Came to power in a coup d’etat in 1999 and remained at the head of Pakistan until 2008, this four-star general declared himself president in June 2001 and therefore occupied this position at the time of the attacks of 11 -September against the United States.
This cigar smoker and whiskey drinker, initially perceived as a moderate, had established himself as Washington’s main regional ally in the fight against Al-Qaeda. He had 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 that the bereaved family be given 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. “May Allah bless the soul of the deceased and give strength to the bereaved family.”
The former head of state, who was forced from power under the 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,” the source, who asked not to be named, told AFP.
During its nine years in power, Pakistan has seen its economic growth take off, its middle class grow, the media liberalize and the army play the appeasement card against rival India.
“Under Musharraf, Pakistan’s decision to join the war on terror has proven to be a boon,” said analyst Hasan Askari, referring to the influx of international aid the country received as a result.
“He will remain as someone who will have presided over Pakistan at a very critical moment,” added Mr. Askari, interviewed by AFP.
Pervez Musharraf, a former elite commando born in Delhi on August 11, 1943, four years before the partition of Pakistan, was chief of the army staff when he overthrew the civilian government of Nawaz Sharif in October 1999, without outpouring of blood.
He declared himself president in June 2001, before winning a controversial referendum in April 2002.
In 2007, Mr. Musharraf had however reached heights of unpopularity after trying to dismiss the president of the Supreme Court.
In the aftermath of the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in December 2007, the crushing losses suffered by his allies in the 2008 elections left him isolated.
Under pressure from justice and the victorious coalition at the polls, which had shown itself ready to launch impeachment proceedings against him, he was forced to resign in August 2008.
In 2013, he had interrupted a luxurious voluntary exile to try to return to power but his candidacy had been invalidated and the ballot had been won by Nawaz Sharif, the man he had overthrown in 1999.
He had come to Dubai in 2016 for medical treatment related to amyloidosis, a rare pathology affecting vital organs.
In 2019, a special court sentenced Pervez Musharraf to death in absentia for “high treason”, for having introduced a state of emergency in 2007. But his sentence was quashed shortly after.
05/02/2023 12:56:57 – Islamabad (AFP) – © 2023 AFP
