Remains of former military leader flown back to Karachi on special plane, official and family sources say
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A portrait of former Pakistani military ruler Musharraf.Photo: AFP
The body of former Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf (retired) has been brought back to Pakistan. Sources said a flight carrying Musharraf’s body left Dubai for Karachi at around 7pm. His family accompanied the remains.
The 79-year-old retired general died in Dubai on Sunday After a long illness. He was hospitalized at the American Hospital in Dubai due to a disease called amyloidosis, a rare disease that occurs when an abnormal protein called amyloid builds up in organs and interferes with their normal function the disease.
According to agency reports, all arrangements for burial at the Karachi army camp have been made, officials said. “Arrangements have been made at Mariel Camp and he will be buried at the Old Army Cemetery. Funeral prayers will be held at the Gulmohal Polo Ground at Mariel Camp,” said a source. A military source said the funeral would take place on Tuesday.
A Pakistani foreign ministry official said the Pakistani mission in the UAE was in touch with Musharraf’s family and facilitated them in various ways. “Our mission in the UAE is in contact with his family,” the official said.
Musharraf seized power after a bloodless military coup in October 1999 and overthrew the democratically elected government of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and ruled Pakistan as chief executive and president until 2008.
The former president and Army chief has amyloidosis, a rare disease caused by the buildup of an abnormal protein called amyloid in organs and tissues throughout the body, according to his family.
Madiha Afzal, an analyst at the Brookings Institution, said: “Ultimately, he made Pakistanis deeply disgusted with direct military rule – so even though the military now has a lot of power behind the scenes power, but it does not want to take direct power again,” the agency said.