Pervez Musharraf's last rites held in Karachi

KARACHI: Former president and army chief General (retd) Pervez Musharraf was laid to rest in an army graveyard in the metropolis — two days after he passed away in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The former chief of army staff's funeral prayer was held at the Malir Cantonment's Polo Ground, shortly before his burial took place.

The funeral prayer was attended by Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad, former army chiefs Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and Gen (retd) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leaders Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Mustafa Kamal, Farooq Sattar, Aminul Haque, Faisal Subzwari, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Amir Muqam, and other noted personalities were also among the attendees of the funeral prayer of the ex-president.

The mortal remains of the former military ruler were brought to Karachi on Monday night in a special plane from the UAE — after several delays in the flight.

Before leaving for Sindh's capital city, his body was given Ghusl (ritual washing and shrouding of the deceased ahead of burial) in Sonapur, Dubai.

Along with the body of the deceased, the widow of the ex-army chief and their children were also flown in from the Gulf state.

Upon arrival, the plane was parked near the old terminal at the airport. The body and the aggrieved family were then taken to their destination from the old terminal under tight security.

The bereaved family formally approached Pakistan’s consulate in Dubai on Sunday, seeking permission to shift the body.

Musharraf was under treatment for amyloidosis at the American Hospital in Dubai for a long time.

It is pertinent to mention here that the former president’s mother was buried in Dubai while his father was laid to rest in Karachi.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz supremo Nawaz Sharif, and other politicians had prayed for the ex-president's forgiveness — who did not return to the country since 2016.