Pakistan's former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf will be buried today in Karachi as his mortal remains reached the city on Monday by a chartered flight from Dubai. Musharraf's burial will take place in the Army Cantonment area where all arrangements have been completed, said officials, according to news agency PTI.
Musharraf, who was the architect of the Kargil War in 1999, passed away in Dubai at the age of 79 on Sunday after fighting a prolonged illness.
The former president was living in the UAE since 2016 in self-exile where he was getting treated for amyloidosis at American Hospital Dubai.
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Musharraf's body arrived in Karachi on Airbus 319 chartered flight, the PTI report cited official and family sources as saying. The aircraft was stationed near the old terminal of Karachi airport.
"Arrangements have been completed at the Malir Cantt where he will be buried at Karachi's Old Army Graveyard. The funeral prayers will take place at the Gulmohar Polo Ground in Malir Cantt," according to a source.
The information secretary of the All Pakistan Muslim League, the party formed by Musharraf after his retirement informed that all arrangements have been completed.
“The funeral prayers will be offered at the Polo Ground in Malir Cantt at 1:45pm,” he said, adding that Musharraf would be laid to rest at the Army Graveyard.
The former military ruler's body reached Karachi airport on Monday afternoon after a delay over the availability of an aircraft, documentation and NoC procedures between its mission in the United Arab Emirates and the Pakistan government
Musharraf’s wife Saba, son Bilal and his daughter accompanied the body to Karachi, as per the report. Musharraf's mother has been buried in Dubai while his father was laid to rest in Karachi.
Musharraf ousted the elected government of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif after a bloodless military coup in October 1999 and ruled Pakistan till 2008 as chief executive and President.