Former president Rafiq Tarar passes away at 92

Funeral prayers to be offered later today in Lahore

LAHORE:

Former president of Pakistan and PML-N leader Justice (retd) Rafiq Tarar passed away on Monday after suffering from a long illness, confirmed his grandson PML-N leader Attaullah Tarar. He was 92. 

میرے دادا جان محمد رفیق تارڑ رضائے الٰہی سے انتقال کر گئے ہیں۔

انا للہ وانا اليہ راجعون

— Attaullah Tarar (@TararAttaullah) March 7, 2022

"My grandfather Mohammad Rafiq Tarar has passed away."

The funeral prayers of the former president will be offered later today in Lahore. 

Tarar was sworn into the office of the president on January 1, 1998. He was not removed from office after Pervez Musharraf dismantled the Nawaz Sharif government in 1999, and remained in office until June 20, 2001.

He was also one of Nawaz Sharif’s closest associates. After retiring as a Supreme Court judge in 1997, the former president was elected as a member of the Senate on a PML-N ticket and later became president of the country in the same year.

صدر مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کا سابق صدر محمد رفیق تارڑ کے انتقال پر اظہار افسوس pic.twitter.com/S2Ijuf0Mgw

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) March 7, 2022

President Arif Alvi expressed grief over Tarar's passing and offered prayers for the departed soul and extended condolences to the family. 

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif also expressed grief at the former president's passing.“Former president, our kind and compassionate elder, astute legislator, just judge and very good man, the respected Rafiq Tarar has passed away,” PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif wrote on his official Twitter handle.

سابق صدر مملکت، ہمارے شفیق اور مہربان بزرگ، زیرک قانون دان، انصاف پسند جج اور نہایت اچھے انسان محترم رفیق تارڑ بھی رخصت ہوگئے۔ اللہ تعالی ان کے درجات بلند فرمائے۔ ہمارے لئے وہ ایک قابل احترام بزرگ کا درجہ رکھتے تھے جنہوں نے ہر مرحلے پر نہ صرف ہماری مخلصانہ راہنمائی فرمائی بلکہ۔۔

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) March 7, 2022

Shehbaz further stated that Tarar held the status of a respected elder who not only gave sincere guidance at every stage but also played a key role in understanding the matter with his “wisdom, understanding and patience”.

“His death is a personal trauma, his loss will always be felt at every step”, he said.

اپنی دانش مندی، فہم وفراست اور بردباری سے معاملہ فہمی میں بھی ہمیشہ کلیدی کردار اد ا کیا۔ ان کی وفات ایک ذاتی صدمہ ہے۔ ان کی کمی ہمیشہ ہر قدم پر محسوس ہوتی رہے گی۔ اللہ تعالی تمام وابستگان کو صبر جمیل دے۔ آمین

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) March 7, 2022

Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, while expressing heartfelt condolences on Tarar's demise, prayed for the departed soul and strength for the bereaved family.

General Qamar Javed Bajwa, #COAS, expresses heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of former President of Pakistan Muhammad Rafiq Tarar. “May Allah bless his soul & give strength to the bereaved family to bear this irreparable loss, Ameen”, COAS.

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) March 7, 2022