Guarded by a heavy contingent of Military Police (MP), a coffin draped in the Pakistani flag carrying Pervez Musharraf was driven to Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Malir Cantt., where his funeral prayers were offered at the cantonment’s Polo Ground at 1:45pm today (Tuesday). Musharraf was later laid to rest “with full military honours” at the Army Graveyard.
Pakistan’s army chief from 1998 to 2007, and also president from 2000 till 2008, Pervez Musharraf passed away on Sunday after a prolonged illness. He was 79 years old.
Honour guard soldiers carried the former general’s flag-draped casket into an open hall, ostensibly in CMH Malir Cantt., where they put it at rest before saluting it. The soldiers then marched away in formation, as friends and family of the former president descended upon his casket to mourn their loss and pay their final respects.
General Pervez Musharraf was laid to rest with full military honors today. The ex-military dictator's funeral prayers were offered in the Polo Ground in Malir Cantt, Karachi. Ex-Army Chiefs Qamar Javed Bajwa and Ashfaq Pervez Kayani were present at the occasion. pic.twitter.com/g8HrPrALLv
— The Friday Times (@TFT_) February 7, 2023
Facilitated by the Foreign Office (FO), a special plane from Dubai carrying the mortal remains of former military dictator and former president Pervez Musharraf, with his bereaved family members onboard, landed on Monday night at the Karachi airport’s old terminal.
While there was no official statement from government authorities, mourners present at Musharraf’s burial said it was held “with full state and military protocol” befitting his rank and service.
“He would be buried in the military graveyard under state protocol with full military honours,” Tahir Hussain said to media earlier. Hussain had been Musharraf’s spokesman in Karachi ever since the former military ruler created a political party, the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), in 2010.
On Monday, a heated debate took place in the Senate of Pakistan as PPP senator Raza Rabbani rejected the proposition that Musharraf, convicted for treason under Article 6 of the Constitution, should get a state funeral. JUI-F senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan even refused to offer the customary supplication prayers at Musharraf’s passing, saying he would instead pray for those who died during Monday’s earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
Pervez Musharraf Body Shifted to Graveyard | Pervez Musharraf Funeral Prayers Offered pic.twitter.com/4RC5fPVex8
— The Friday Times (@TFT_) February 7, 2023
Musharraf’s funeral prayers were attended by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Mustafa Kamal, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) Gen. Sahir Shamshad, former army chiefs Gen. (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and Gen. (retd) Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
Others who attended the funeral include Farooq Sattar, Amir Muqam, Aminul Haque, and Faisal Subzwari. Eminent personalities and serving military officers were also present at the funeral ceremonies for the former president and army chief.
