ISLAMABAD: Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan, the former President of Pakistan, died of a heart attack at his Islamabad residence at 12-15 this afternoon [April 20] at the age of 67 years. His body will be taken to his ancestral village, Rehana, tomorrow morning and he will be buried there. … His death today came rather suddenly. According to his youngest son, Tahir Ayub, “he was speaking quite all right till almost the end and did not complain of any pain”. He was taking rest when “struck, obviously by a heart attack, and expired before medical aid could reach him”.

His wife, Begum Ayub Khan, was present by his bedside. One of his daughters, Begum Nasim Aurangzeb, was also present. … Tahir Ayub reached home ten minutes later. He had been suffering from heart trouble for over eight years — since the last days of his rule as President. He visited the United States about two and [a] half years ago for an operation. About a month ago, he was admitted in the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi. … Starting his career as a Commissioned officer in the British Indian Army in 1928, he was appointed the first Pakistani Commander-in-Chief of the country’s Army in January, 1951. — Islamabad Bureau

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2024