Former Pakistan Army chief General Abdul Waheed Kakar dies

Retired General Abdul Waheed Kakar, who served as Pakistan’s chief of army staff from 1993 to 1996, has died, the military’s media wing said on Monday.

Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the Pakistan Army expressed grief over his death.

Who was General Abdul Waheed Kakar?

Abdul Waheed Kakar was a retired general who led the Pakistan Army as chief of army staff from January 1993 to January 1996. His tenure covered a period of political turmoil, including the 1993 crisis that ended with the resignations of the then president and prime minister.

Kakar assumed command of the army in January 1993. He played a pivotal role in the crisis that led to the resignations of then-president Ghulam Ishaq Khan and then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif in July 1993, paving the way for fresh elections.

Benazir Bhutto returned to power after her Pakistan Peoples Party won the October 1993 elections. Kakar remained army chief during the subsequent political transition. He completed his tenure in January 1996 and retired from military service.

How did the Pakistan Army and President Zardari react to Kakar’s death?

Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, along with officers and personnel across the Pakistan Army, conveyed their condolences, according to a statement from Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The army paid tribute to Kakar’s military career, leadership and contributions to the institution.

The army also extended sympathies to his family and prayed for strength and patience for those mourning his death.

President Asif Ali Zardari separately expressed sorrow over the former general’s passing and offered condolences to his family, according to a statement from the President’s Office.