Former president Rafiq Tarar passes away at 92

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. 

"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.

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.

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.

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.