Leghari suffered from cardiac problems and was earlier admitted to the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi a few days ago.

Leghari was a founding member of ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and served as head of state from November 1993 to December 1997. He was the country’s eighth president since independence from Britain in 1947.

In 1996, he dismissed the government of PPP Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and jailed her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, over corruption charges.

Leghari was unable to complete his five-year term as president and resigned after developing differences with Bhutto’s successor, Nawaz Sharif.

Born into a wealthy political family, Leghari studied at Pakistan’s top schools before going on to Oxford University.

After stepping down as president, he founded the centrist Millat Party and was elected to the National Assembly in 2002 elections as its leader.