Former President Pervez Musharraf, the last military leader of Pakistan whom he had made an ally of the United States in the fight against Al-Qaeda, died in Dubai at the age of 79 following a rare illness.
Came to power after a coup d’etat in 1999 and remained at the head of Pakistan until 2008, this four-star general proclaimed himself president in June 2001 and therefore occupied this position at the time of the attacks of September 11, 2001 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 following 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 had been forced out of power under 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 longer,” the source, who requested anonymity, told AFP.
The “War on Terror”
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,” says analyst Hasan Askari, referring to the influx of international aid the country has 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.
For Mohammad Waqas, a 24-year-old student met in Islamabad, “Musharraf has improved the education system and infrastructure, thus contributing to the development” of the country.
“But on the other hand, the country has suffered losses from terrorism. America’s entry into the war has weakened our own country,” he said.
Pervez Musharraf, a former elite commando born in Delhi on August 11, 1943, four years before the partition of India, was chief of the army staff when he overthrew the civilian government of Nawaz Sharif in October 1999, without bloodshed.
He declared himself president in June 2001, before winning a controversial referendum in April 2002.
“His only act, which will be remembered throughout history, was to have violated the Constitution,” said retired civil servant Naeem Ul Haq Satti. “The most important thing in a country is its constitution,” the 69-year-old told AFP.
In 2007, Mr. Musharraf had however reached heights of unpopularity after having tried 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 was a good leader. There has been no leader like him before and there will never be like him again,” said Muhammad Khan, a 70-year-old shopkeeper from Islamabad.
Pervez Musharraf had joined Dubai in 2016 for medical treatment related to amyloidosis, a rare pathology affecting vital organs.
In 2019, a special court sentenced him to death in absentia for “high treason”, for having introduced a state of emergency in 2007. But his sentence was quashed shortly after.