Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Arif Alvi and the heads of the Pakistani army, navy and air force expressed their condolences on his death.
A special flight to Dubai will take place on Monday to bring Musharraf’s body back to Pakistan for burial, local TV channel Geo News reported.
The former four-star general, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, oversaw rapid economic growth and tried to introduce liberal social values to the conservative Muslim country.
Musharraf enjoyed strong support for many years, with his biggest threat being Al Qaeda and other Islamist militants who tried to kill him at least three times.
However, the heavy hand with which the military used to quell dissent and its continued support for the United States in its fight against al Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban ultimately brought about his downfall.
“He is called a military dictator, but there has never been a stronger democratic system than under his rule,” said Fawad Chaudhry, a former close aide to Musharraf and leader of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party.
“He gave Pakistan a free media and emphasized the diversity of opinion in Pakistan,” Chaudhry said in a video message. “History will always remember him. Pervez Musharraf, we will miss you.”
Musharraf joined what Washington called its “war on terror” after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. Pakistan provided US forces with ground and air access to landlocked Afghanistan to pursue al Qaeda militants identified as behind the plot.
This support ran counter to Pakistan’s policy of supporting the Taliban, who then and now controlled neighboring Afghanistan. This made Musharraf a target for militants in Pakistan and caused him to lose support among conservative elements in the country.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, a group that brings together Pakistani militant organizations created as a reaction to Musharraf’s crackdown on extremist elements, celebrated his death, criticizing his policy of alignment with the West.
“This is the infamous army chief who sold the country’s honor and respect,” he said in a statement. The group, which in recent days has launched a new wave of attacks across Pakistan, warned current military leaders not to follow Musharraf’s policy.