Nur Khan
| Air Marshal Malik Noor Khan | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| LGen (AM) Nur Khan, 1923–2011. | |
| 8th Governor of West Pakistan | |
| In office 1 September 1969 – 1 February 1970 |
|
| President | General Yahya Khan |
| Prime Minister | Noorul Amin |
| Vice President | Noorul Amin |
| Vice PM | Noorul Amin |
| Preceded by | LGen Tikka Khan |
| Succeeded by | LGen Attikur Rahmann |
| 6th Air Force Commander-in-Chief | |
| In office July 23, 1965 – August 31, 1969 |
|
| Succeeded by | Air Marshal Rahim Khan |
| Preceded by | Air Marshal Asghar Khan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Malick Noor Khan 2 February 1923 Chakwal, British Punjab, British Indian Empire (now Pakistan)[1] |
| Died | 15 December 2011 (aged 88)[2][3] Rawalpindi, Pakistan[4] |
| Citizenship |  British Indian Empire Pakistan |
| Nationality | British Subject (1923–1947) Pakistani (1947–2011) |
| Political party | None (Military Governorship) |
| Residence | Air Headquarter (AHQ), Rawalpindi |
| Alma mater | Indian Military Academy |
| Occupation | Military administrator |
| Cabinet | General Yahya Khan Administration |
| Religion | Islam |
| Military service | |
| Nickname(s) | General Khan |
| Allegiance | British Indian Empire Pakistan (1947–1971) |
| Service/branch |  Royal Indian Air Force Pakistan Air Force |
| Years of service | 1941–1971 |
| Rank |  Air Marshal (Lieutenant-General) |
| Unit | No. 11 Squadron Arrows |
| Commands | Chaklala Air Base Pakistan Air Force Academy Assistant Chief (Air Operations) Peshawar Air Base Masroor Air Base No.1 Tactical Operations Group Pakistan International Airlines Commander-in-Chief Pakistan Air Force |
| Battles/wars | World war II (Burmese air operations) Indo-Pakistan war of 1947 Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 |
| Awards | Hilal-e-Jurat Hilal-e-Shujaat Hilal-e-Quaid-i-Azam Sitara-e-Pakistan |
| Administrator | President Pakistan Hockey Federation President Pakistan Cricket Board |
Air Marshal Nur Khan (Urdu: نور خان , born Malik Nur Khan (Urdu: ملک نور خان ; February 22, 1923 – December 15, 2011) HS, HQA, SPk HJ, was a high-profile military official who represented the Pakistan Air Force as its Air Commander-in-Chief [5] in the ruling military governments of Field Marshal Ayub Khan and General Yahya Khan from 1965 till 1971. Considered the hero of the 1965 air war - the air force general who led the Pakistan Air Force outstandingly to achieve parity over the three times bigger Indian air force on the very first day of the 1965 war - was widely respected for his integrity but also and for his sharp intelligence and outstanding management abilities that largely benefited the Pakistan's military as well as the existing military governments.[3]
On September 1969, he was appointed by the military government as the Governor of West Pakistan [3] but soon resigned after mounting serious disagreements with the military government in 1970, and was finally forced out of the military government and the air force by President General Yahya Khan in 1971. In 1976, he joined hands with then-Prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who appointed him as President of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF); and in 1980, he also assumed the Chairmanship of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after General Zia-ul-Haq requested to take the chairmanship of Cricket administration. He presided both the Hockey Federation and Cricket Board until 1984.[2][6] In 1985, Khan participated in 1985 parliamentary elections for a technocratic seat and also contested on Pakistan Peoples Party's platform on 1988 parliamentary elections but conceded his defeat that eventually led to end his short-period political-technocratic career once and for all.[7]
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Career with Royal Air Force
Khan was born on February 22, 1923, in a small village, "Dandi", located at Tamman range of Talagang District of Punjab British state, British Indian Empire.[3] Nur Khan belonged to an Awan family and completed his early education from Lahore where he graduated from renowned private high school, Aitchison High School. After graduating from high-school, Nur Khan sent to attend the Aitchison College and graduated with a science diploma. Soon he applied for the Indian Military Academy and attended the Rashtriya Indian Military College at Dehra Dun where he gained B.A. in Military administration. On January 6 of 1941, Nur Khan was commissioned in Royal Indian Air Force in No. 1 Squadron [8] where he was sent to participate in Burma Campaign 1942 and also flown bombing and combat air operations in Burma Campaign 1944–1945. In 1946, Nur Khan was elevated as the Flight Commander of No. 4 Squadron of RIAF which he commanded until 1947.[3]
In 1947, after the establishment of Pakistan, Nur Khan opted the Pakistan's citizenship and was inherited in newly formed Pakistan Air Force. From 1950s to 1960s, Nur Khan commanded the newly formed Pakistan Air Force Academy and then held various key appointments including command of Chaklala, Peshawar and Mauripur stations and, as an air commodore, of No. 1 Group at Peshawar. He also did a stint at the Air Headquarters as the Assistant Chief of Staff Air (in charge of all air operations).
[edit] Emergence with Pakistan Air Force
In 1959, following a series of mishaps in the country’s airlines, Air Marshal Nur Khan was deputed to head the amalgamated Pakistan Airlines Corporation where he remained till taking over from Air Marshal Asghar Khan in July 65. During that period, he made a name for his airline as a safe and reliable organization, and for himself as a dynamic go-getter. It was not surprising therefore that he was named as Air Marshal Asghar Khan’s successor; he was then 42 years old.
Nur Khan was also part of the Pakistani contingent that clashed with the Israeli Air Force during the Six Day War. In fact, the President of Israel, Ezer Weizman, who was also the Commander of the Israeli Air Force and the Minister of Defense of Israel, wrote in his autobiography that: "He was a formidable fellow and I was glad that he was Pakistani and not Egyptian".[7][9]
Nur Khan was the Air Marshal of Pakistan Air Force, Governor of West Pakistan and the Chairman of Pakistan International Airlines.
[edit] Career as Civilian Airline Administrator
In 1960, PIA's very first jetliner (a Boeing 707-321 leased from Pan Am) is taking gentle turn under the command of Malik Nur Khan. Nur Khan was PIA's Managing Director from 1959 to 1965.[3] His success in establishing PIA on a firm and profitable financial basis in six years is now a fact of airline history. Under his charismatic and inspirational leadership, PIA became one of the leading and respected airlines of the world. During his tenure, PIA became the first Asian airline to operate jet aircraft. The airline inducted modern Boeing 720 B jet in its fleet. PIA started flying to China and flights to Europe via Moscow were also launched during this period. In 1973, Nur Khan was specially requested by the government of Pakistan to resume control of PIA. During his second term as airline's head, PIA became operator of wide-body DC-10s and Boeing 747s. Popular Green & Gold aircraft livery was introduced, plus many more achievements were made by the airline under Nur Khan's leadership. He kept PIA out of Pakistan's turbulent political arena and returned it to a sound commercial basis. Nur Khan was a dynamic leader and believed in innovation and new ideas
[edit] Role in Founding Pakistan Hockey Federation
Always a sports enthusiast as well as an able sports administrator, he's the founder of the annual Champions Trophy in field hockey as well as helping organise the 1987 Cricket World Cup in India & Pakistan as PCB head.[6] Nur Khan was also a member of the National Assembly from 1985 till 1988. He also contested in 1988 election on PP ticket from NA 44 Chakwal II but wasn't successful. After defeat in the 1988 elections he decided to retire from politics and his cousin Malik Mumtaz Khan Tamman and Malik Allah Dad Awan starting contesting the election from same constituency.[7]
[edit] Legacy
Nur Khan was the Pakistan Air Force Commander-in-Chief from 23 July 1965 to 31 July 1969[10]. Nur Khan was appointed Governor of West Pakistan in August 1969.
Nur Khan belong to a small Village Dandi, Tamman, Talagang.
[edit] References
- ^ Hindus Contribution Towards Making Of Pakistan 22 May 2010 Retrieved 28 January 2011
- ^ a b http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-englishonline/Politics/16-Dec-2011/Air-Marshal--r-Noor-Khan-dies
- ^ a b c d e f http://tribune.com.pk/story/307432/obituary-national-icon-air-marshal-m-nur-khan-flies-no-more/
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=11029&Cat=13
- ^ a b http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/17/glowing-tributes-paid-to-legendary-nur-khan.html
- ^ a b c http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/12/1965-war-hero-air-marshal-nur-khan-passes-away/
- ^ http://www.paffalcons.com/cas/nur-khan.php
- ^ Israel Air Force chief and former-President Ezer Weizman writing about Nur Khan in his autobiography, On Eagles' Wings
- ^ Air Marshal Nur Khan, Field Marshal Ayub Khan congratulating M.M Alam for shooting down five Indian Air Force Hunters in one flight - Sep 7, 1965
[edit] External links
- Air Marshal (Retd.) Nur Khan (22nd Feb, 1923 – 15th Dec 2011)
- Bio of Air Marshal Nur Khan
- [2] A picture of Nur Khan in front of a T-37 (www.Flickr.com)
- [3] A picture of Nur Khan in a F-86 cockpit (www.Flickr.com)
- [4] A picture of Nur Khan in a F-104 cockpit (www.Flickr.com)
- http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/545567.html
- http://www.siasat.pk/forum/showthread.php?93163-1965-War-Hero-Air-Marshal-Nur-Khan-Passes-Away
- http://islamabad.newspakistan.pk/2011/12/16/air-marshal-r-noor-khan-dies-the-nation-pakistan/
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Asghar Khan |
Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Air Force 1965–1969 |
Succeeded by Abdul Rahim Khan |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Tikka Khan |
Governor of West Pakistan 1969–1970 |
Succeeded by Attiqur Rahman |
