1. Mohammad Asghar Khan recognized as the Father of the Pakistan Air Force and known as Shaheen-e-Pakistan and Night Flyer, held the distinction of being the first native and second Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Air Force from 1957 to 1965.
54 Facts About Asghar Khan
1. 2.
At the age of 36, Asghar Khan became the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Air Force in 1957 and the world's youngest Air Vice Marshal.
3.
At 37, Asghar Khan became the youngest Air Marshal in the world.
4.
In 1968, Asghar Khan entered politics, criticizing President Ayub Khan's regime and spearheaded protests for the release of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
5.
In 1855, Sardar Samad Asghar Khan moved from Tirah Valley and eventually settled in Battal-Ballian, near Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir, where he lived until his death in 1900.
6.
Major General Samundar Asghar Khan was known for his generosity, keeping his home open to anyone in need within the Mohalla.
7.
Rehmatullah contacted President Ayub Khan to request that Asghar Khan assist the officer.
8.
In 1933, Asghar Khan saw an advertisement for the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College and enrolled after convincing his father who was initially reluctant.
9.
Major Puri estimated that Asghar Khan had only two to three months to live.
10.
Yaqub bid him farewell, and Asghar Khan asked him to inform his father in Srinagar about his condition.
11.
Mehra ordered Asghar Khan to lead the flight, with Richardson telling them that this was an important mission and he would wait at the airbase for the return of Asghar Khan and his pilots.
12.
From 13 December 1944 to 27 August 1945, Flt Lt Asghar Khan served as the Flight Commander of 'B' Flight of the No 9 Squadron RIAF stationed in Burma during World War II, actively participating in the Burma Campaign, directing and commanding aerial operations against Japanese forces.
13.
On 12 March 1946, Commanding Officer Asghar Khan was presented a Japanese samurai sword by Air Marshal Sir Roderick Carr at the airstrip of Gurgaon.
14.
On 7 June 1947, Squadron Leader Asghar Khan was appointed to the sub-committee led by Air Vice Marshal Allan Perry-Keene to distribute the defense assets of British India between the proposed states of Pakistan and India.
15.
Group Captain Asghar Khan attended the RAF Staff College, Andover in 1950 and served briefly as the acting Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Pakistan Air Force from 10 September 1951 to 30 September 1951, during AVM Leslie William Cannon's tour of England.
16.
In 1952, Asghar Khan was selected for a course at the Joint Services Staff College.
17.
Group Captain's Haider Raza and Asghar Khan were both promoted to Air Commodore's on 17 April 1954.
18.
On 19 April 1955, Asghar Khan was among a group of senior officers from the fighting and civil services attending the college, who visited the Barnsley factory of Brook Motors Ltd.
19.
On 23 July 1957, Asghar Khan was promoted to Air Vice Marshal, becoming the youngest Air Vice Marshal at 36, and the first native C-in-C of the PAF, succeeding McDonald.
20.
In January 1958, AVM Asghar Khan tasked Wg Cdr Mitty Masud and FS Hussain with training pilots for King Zahir Shah of Afghanistan's visit.
21.
However, Asghar Khan declined the request, stating that he "found the whole exercise distasteful," including Mirza's abrogation of the constitution, through which he imposed martial law just three weeks earlier.
22.
The first B-57 Canberra of the PAF was piloted by Asghar Khan and landed on 23 November 1959 at PAF Station Drigh Road.
23.
In February 1960, Asghar Khan became the 1,131st recipient of the Certificate of Supersonic Recognition for mach busting after piloting the world's fastest fighter airplane at the time, the F-104 Starfighter.
24.
At the 12th SEATO military advisers conference on 25 May 1960, Asghar Khan called on members of the pact to keep their guard up.
25.
In 1964, Asghar Khan became the first air chief to lead the fly past on the Pakistan Day parade in an B-57 Canberra.
26.
On 10 January 1961, Asghar Khan was appointed as the ninth President of the Pakistan Football Federation by the control board, which selected him to lead efforts in reorganizing and revitalizing the federation's activities.
27.
However, President Ayub Asghar Khan insisted that he continue his service but as the Head of the Civil Aviation and Tourism.
28.
At a press conference held at the PIA headquarters in Karachi in July 1967, Asghar Khan announced plans for the construction of a series of small hotels in major cities and resort areas across the country, with a total investment of PKR 44.5 million.
29.
On 15 December 1968 at a rally in Dacca, Syed Mahbub Murshed and Asghar Khan announced their full support for the "legitimate interests" of both East and West Pakistan, advocating for the fullest possible autonomy for East Pakistan.
30.
Two days later, Asghar Khan was charged by the Government of Pakistan for unlawfully inciting a crowd to assemble.
31.
However, Asghar Khan expressed disinterest, stating that he had no intention of entering politics.
32.
Ahead of the 1970 Pakistani general election, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Asghar Khan were among several leaders who declared that, if elected, they would reclaim Indian-administered Kashmir by force.
33.
The New York Times reported that Asghar Khan offered a conciliatory program focused on major development efforts in East Pakistan and genuine political freedom for its people, but it was completely censored.
34.
In November 1971, Asghar Khan was one of the 42 signatories, including Faiz Ahmed Faiz, who urged President Yahya to release Sheikh Mujiubur Rahman.
35.
Additionally, Asghar Khan demanded for a public trial of Yahya Khan for his role in the Bengali genocide.
36.
In January 1972, Asghar Khan was the first to call for Pakistan's recognition of Bangladesh, a move that led President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to branding him as a traitor.
37.
In March 1972, Asghar Khan had described President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as, "a living Yazid".
38.
On 30 November 1972, Asghar Khan was attacked by the police and wounded while he was on his way to Multan to investigate the death of a student in a demonstration.
39.
In 1974, Asghar Khan suggested that Pakistan form a defence pact with China in order to combat a potential nuclear threat from India.
40.
On 17 December 1974, Ahmad Raza Khan Kasuri informed the National Assembly that Asghar Khan had been forcibly confined in a house in Hyderabad, Sindh for the past four days, with 100 security personnel surrounding the premises.
41.
On 23 May 1973, passengers including Asghar Khan, who had boarded a Pakistan International Airlines flight at Quetta Airport, were instructed to disembark and identify their luggage.
42.
On 26 July 1973, Asghar Khan's vehicle was chased by armed men in a jeep and two trucks.
43.
In preparation, Asghar Khan was instrumental in organizing the Pakistan National Alliance, a group of parties opposed to Bhutto and his government.
44.
Bhutto aimed to prevent Asghar Khan from gaining a leadership position within the opposition alliance, eventually securing Mufti Mahmud as the head of the PNA.
45.
Police in Karachi filed charges against Asghar Khan for calling for the overthrow of the government on 7 May 1980.
46.
Opposition party leaders, including senior members of Asghar Khan's Tehreek-e-Istiqlal were arrested under Martial Law Order No 78 on 5 August 1980.
47.
In 1985, Asghar Khan warned that Pakistan's emerging drug mafia could influence the upcoming Pakistani general election if precautions were not taken.
48.
On 25 October 2003, as President of the Qaumi Jamhoori Party, Asghar Khan met with renowned Indian peace activist Nirmala Deshpande, who was accompanied by Abdul Rashid Shaheen, a member of the Lok Sabha from Baramulla, and Pakistani MNAs Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed and Qamar Zaman Kaira.
49.
However, Asghar Khan reiterated his long-held position on Kashmir, advocating for its independence with both India and Pakistan sharing responsibility for its defense.
50.
In July 1998, Asghar Khan was among 63 retired Pakistani, Indian, and Bengali armed forces personnel who signed an agreement urging Pakistan and India to refrain from developing nuclear weapons.
51.
On 20 October 2011, at the launch ceremony for Imran Khan's book, Pakistan: A Personal History, Asghar Khan took the podium and stated:.
52.
At the age of 96, Asghar Khan died at 6:00am PKT on 5 January 2018, at CMH Rawalpindi from Cardiac arrest.
53.
The early air defense system Asghar Khan prioritized proved effective, resulting in Yunis bringing the bomber down at 40,000 feet, far beyond the operational capability of PAF fighters, with both the Indian pilot and navigator ejecting from their aircraft and taken into custody.
54.
Haider emphasized that the indomitable spirit instilled by Asghar Khan propelled the Air Force during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 and that the air force would continue to build upon the solid foundations he laid.