Former Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf passed away at the age of 78 in a hospital in Dubai. A charismatic and controversial figure, Musharraf was at the forefront of Pakistani politics for over two decades.
Born in Delhi in August 1943, Musharraf moved to Pakistan after the partition of India and joined the Pakistan military. He rose through the ranks and eventually became the Chief of Army Staff in 1998. He overthrew the democratically elected government in a bloodless coup in 1999, leading Pakistan for nearly a decade as the country’s military ruler.
Musharraf’s rule was marked by significant reforms in areas such as education, economy, and women’s rights, but also by controversies such as the siege of the Red Mosque in 2007 and the suspension of the judiciary in 2007. Despite these challenges, he remained a popular figure among many Pakistanis and was praised for his efforts to modernize Pakistan and tackle extremism.
In 2007, Musharraf announced that he would step down as military leader and run for the presidency in a bid to secure his legacy and ensure a peaceful transition to civilian rule. He won the presidential election, but faced growing opposition and multiple assassination attempts, eventually resigning in 2008. He lived in self-imposed exile in London and Dubai for several years before returning to Pakistan in 2013 to contest the elections. He was disqualified from running and faced multiple court cases, eventually being allowed to leave the country again in 2016.
Musharraf’s passing marks the end of an era in Pakistani politics and his legacy will be remembered for both his reforms and controversies. He leaves behind a wife, Sehba Musharraf, and three children.
Funeral arrangements will be announced in due course.
