Ex-Pakistan President Musharraf dies accused of treason

Former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has died after a long illness in Dubai at the age of 79. writes Reuters. Musharraf resigned in 2008 and left the country, after which he was sentenced to death in absentia on charges of treason.

The death of Musharraf was confirmed by the military of Pakistan, as well as in the representation of the country in the UAE.

“I can confirm that he passed away this morning,” Shazia Siraj, a spokeswoman for the Pakistani consulate in Dubai and the embassy in Abu Dhabi, told Reuters.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Arif Alvi and the commanders of the Pakistani army, navy and air force expressed their condolences on the death of the former leader of Pakistan. On February 6, Musharraf’s body will be taken on a special flight to Pakistan for burial, Geo News also reports.

Musharraf came to power in a military coup in 1999, but officially held the presidency of Pakistan from 2001-2008. After the September 11 attacks, he supported the United States in their fight against terrorists and provided them with assistance. This caused discontent among part of the population, including radical religious organizations, and led to popular unrest in Pakistan, Reuters wrote.

In 2007 Musharraf declared martial law in Pakistan and suspended the constitution. Then, amid mass protests, he resigned and left the country. In 2019, a court in Pakistan sentenced the former president of the country to death in absentia on charges of treason. According to Reuters, the court concluded that due to Musharraf’s actions between November 2007 and February 2008, “human rights and civil liberties were infringed” in Pakistan.

The ex-president, in his video message from a hospital ward in Dubai, said earlier that he did not receive a fair trial and the opportunity to defend himself. “I served the people and made decisions in the interests of the country,” he said.