Pakistan’s former President and head of the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) political party Pervez Musharraf speaks as he unveils his party manifesto for the forthcoming general election at his residence in Islamabad April 15, 2013. The election tribunal of Sindh High Court rejected the appeal Musharraf submitted against the rejection of his nomination papers in the NA-250 constituency of Karachi on Monday, local media reported. REUTERS FILE PHOTO
ISLAMABAD — Pakistani former President Pervez Musharraf died on Sunday following a prolonged illness at a hospital in Dubai, after years in self-imposed exile.
Pakistan’s military and the country’s mission in the United Arab Emirates announced the death of the former army chief, 79, who was pushed from power in 2008.
“I can confirm that he passed away this morning,” Shazia Siraj, spokesperson for Pakistan’s consulate in Dubai and embassy in Abu Dhabi, told Reuters.
The chiefs of Pakistan’s army, navy and air force expressed condolences on his death, the public relations wing of the military said.
The former four-star general, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, oversaw rapid economic growth and attempted to usher in socially liberal values in the conservative Muslim country.
Musharraf enjoyed strong support for many years, his greatest threat al Qaeda and other militant Islamists who tried to kill him at least three times.
But his heavy-handed use of the military to quell dissent as well as his continued backing of the United States in its fight against al Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban ultimately led to his downfall.
Allowed abroad for medical treatment even as he faced a treason case in Pakistan, Musharraf last flew to Dubai in 2016.