Former president Pervez Musharraf passes away in Dubai

Former president General Pervez Musharraf (retired) passed away on Sunday at American Hospital in Dubai after a prolonged illness, Aaj News reported.

The former chief of army staff was hospitalised for a couple of weeks due to a complication of his ailment (amyloidosis).

According to the Mayo Clinic website, amyloidosis is a rare disease that occurs when an abnormal protein, called amyloid, builds up in the organs and interferes with their normal function.

The retired general's illness came to light in 2018 when the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) announced that he was suffering from the rare disease amyloidosis.

Musharraf left the country in 2016 to seek medical treatment abroad and had remained outside the country since.

Musharraf, born on August 11, 1943, in Delhi, completed his early education at St Patrick's High School in Karachi. He got higher education at Forman Christian College in Lahore.

As the news of his demise spread, tributes and condolences poured in.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) expressed its condolences on the death of the former army chief.

In a statement, it said: "CJCSC & Services Chiefs express heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of General Pervez Musharaf, Former President, CJCSC and Chief of Army Staff. May Allah bless the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family."

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also extended condolences to Musharraf’s family.

In a Twitter post, he said: “I offer my condolences to the family of General (rtd) Pervez Musharraf. May the departed soul rest in peace.”

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chaudhry prayed for the departed soul.

“Pervez Musharraf passed away. He was a great person, his friends proved to be small. Pakistan first was his thought and ideology always. May God have mercy on him,” he wrote.

Pakistan's former ambassador to the United Nations also prayed for the departed soul.

Shashi Tharoor, an Indian politician, tweeted “once an implacable foe of India, he became a real force for peace 2002-2007”.