12 Facts About Shahid Lateef

Shahid Lateef completed an academic degree with top honours, and was awarded a Sword of Honour from the PAF Academy in Risalpur.

Shahid Lateef has performed duties as a fighter pilot in various squadrons of the PAF and was among the founders of the F-16 induction programme in the PAF.

On March 24,2017, Shahid Lateef accused Nawaz Sharif of a "blasphemous speech" to Karachi's Hindu community.

In 1970, Shahid Lateef was inducted in the PAF Academy in Risalpur, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and participated in the war with India in 1971.

Shahid Lateef gained commission in 1974 in General Duties Pilot branch.

Shahid Lateef was chosen in the group of the first six PAF Pilots to undergo F-16 conversion in the United States.

Shahid Lateef was the first pilot to ferry the F-16 from USA to Pakistan in 1982, and formed part of the pioneer team for training pilots in Pakistan on the F-16 weapon system.

Shahid Lateef was sent to the United Arab Emirates where he was assigned the command of a Mirage squadron.

Shahid Lateef was then chosen to command a fighter squadron, fighter wing and a fighter base in the PAF.

Shahid Lateef has had numerous key staff appointments at the Air Headquarters including the JF-17 Project.

Shahid Lateef was to actively encouraged to the rank of Air vice Marshal, and was given the JF-17 Project; a programme that was not able to start due to difficulties, forcing the PAF to continue to operate obsolete equipment.

Shahid Lateef served the Air Force of Pakistan from September, 1971 to April, 2006.