Former Pakistani dictator Pervez Musharraf dies in Dubai

Pakistani military dictator Pervez Musharraf, who ruled this nuclear power for almost a decade, died this Sunday in Dubai after several years suffering from a rare disease, relatives and official sources reported.

The general “died today at the American Hospital in Dubai at the age of 79. He suffered from a rare disease called amyloidosis”, confirmed to EFE the former president of the All Pakistan Muslim League, Musharraf's formation, Muhammed Amjad.

Musharraf was being treated in Dubai, where he resided, for amyloidosis, a rare disease that is caused by the accumulation in the organs of a protein called amyloidwhich alters the functioning of the tissues and causes dysfunctions.

“Going through a difficult stage where recovery is not possible and Organs don't work properly. Pray for his peace of mind in his daily life," the family said in a statement published last June.

The press wing of the Pakistani Army expressed in a statement its “Sincere condolences on the sad passing of General Pervez Musharraf, former president, CJCSC (Committee of Joint Chiefs of Staff) and chief of the Army General Staff”.

"May Allah bless the soul of the deceased and give strength to the grieving family," he added.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a brief message also offered “Our condolences to the family of (retired) General Pervez Musharraf. May the soul of the deceased rest in peace!", published in Twitter.

According to the Pakistani Geo TV, a special flight will take place from Dubai on Monday to take Musharraf's body back to Pakistan for burial.

However, according to Amjad, “his family will make the final decision on whether his body will be returned to Pakistan or not. SYour mother was buried in Dubai, so maybe they decide to bury him in Dubai as well, that remains to be seen," he said.

Musharraf, who was facing several court cases in Pakistan, had been in Dubai since 2016, where he traveled to attend to his health. with the promise of returning to face Justice, but since then he had refused to return.

The retired military came to power through a coup in 1999 and ruled the nuclear power until 2008, He was tried by a special court for the crime of treason against the soldier, accused of imposing a state of emergency and ordering the arrest of dozens of judges.

Although the court in 2019 sentenced the former coup president to the death penalty, marking the first time in seven decades of the country's history that a military dictator has been convicted of his actions, the ruling was overturned the following year by the Lahore High Court.

Pakistan has been ruled by four military dictators that carried out three coups d'état throughout the country's 72-year history, the first of them in 1958 and the last in 1999.

Even when it does not hold power directly, the Army exercises a great control over foreign policy and national security.