Key ally in US war on terror dies at 79
Pakistan’s exiled former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, who became a key US ally during the “war on terror”, has died in a Dubai hospital at 79 after a long illness.
General Musharraf seized power in a 1999 bloodless coup and was acting simultaneously as Pakistan’s army chief, chief executive and president when the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the US took place.
He twice suspended the nation’s constitution and was accused of rigging a referendum to shore up his power, as well as rampant human rights abuses including rounding up opponents during his nearly nine-year rule.
Nonetheless, he became the US’s chief regional ally during its invasion of neighbouring Afghanistan.
The decision – made after Washington issued a “for us or against us” ultimatum – put him in the crosshairs of Islamist militants, who made several attempts on his life.
But it also earned Pakistan a huge influx of foreign aid, which bolstered the economy.
In Pakistan, where the military is supremely powerful and enjoys significant support, he remains a divisive figure.
“There was good in him,” 69-year-old Naeem Ul Haq Satti said. “But his one act, which will be remembered throughout history, was he violated the constitution,” the retired civil servant added. “The most important thing a country has is its constitution.”
General Musharraf was suffering from a rare disease known as Amyloidosis, and last summer his family said he had no prospect of recovery.
Senior military chiefs “express heartfelt condolences on sad demise of General Pervez Musharraf”, a brief statement released by the military’s media wing read.
General Musharraf ruled Pakistan for nearly nine years, starting when then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif attempted to remove him as army chief.
Many Pakistanis handed out sweets to celebrate his 1999 coup, which ended a corrupt and economically disastrous administration and turned on the tap of foreign aid.