Rahimuddin Khan

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Rahimuddin Khan Afridi
رحیم الدین خان آفریدی
7th Governor of Balochistan
In office
20 September, 1978 – 22 March, 1984
Preceded by Khuda Buksh Marri
Succeeded by Sardar F. S. Khan Lodi
16th Governor of Sindh
In office
24 June, 1988 – 11 September, 1988
Preceded by Ashraf W. Tabani
Succeeded by Qadeeruddin Ahmed
Personal details
Born 21 July 1926 (1926-07-21) (age 85)
Qaimganj, United Provinces, British India (now India)[1]
Alma mater Jamia Millia Islamia
Profession Soldier
Religion Islam
Military service
Allegiance Pakistan Pakistan
Service/branch  Pakistan Army (GC – 1)
Years of service 1950–1988
Rank US-O10 insignia.svg General
Unit Baloch Regiment
Commands 111 Brigade, Rawalpindi
II Corps, Multan
Ras Koh nuclear test sites
8th Army Infantry Division
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
Battles/wars Lahore riots of 1953
Indo-Pakistani war of 1971
Balochistan conflict
1970s Baloch insurgency
Soviet war in Afghanistan
Awards Sitara-e-Basalat
Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military)
Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military)

Rahimuddin Khan Afridi (Pashto, Urdu: رحیم الدین خان آفریدی; born 21 July 1926) is a retired four-star general of the Pakistan Army. He was the fourth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, from 1984 to 1987, and the longest-serving Governor and martial law administrator of Balochistan, from 1978 to when he resigned in 1984. He was involved in ending the 1973-1977 operation in Balochistan and pursuing new development,[2][3][4] as well as allegedly suppressing incoming Mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Rahimuddin later served as Governor of Sindh with emergency powers in 1988, from which he also resigned.

Contents

[edit] Military service

Rahimuddin Khan was born in Kaimganj, Farrukhabad, United Provinces India, in the Pashtun Afridi tribes that migrated from Kohat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He attended Jamia Millia Islamia University, founded in Delhi by his uncle Zakir Hussain, the third President of India. Rahimuddin opted for Pakistan during Partition in 1947, enrolling in the Pakistan Army as the first Gentleman Cadet of the Pakistan Military Academy.[5] As Captain, he helped enforce martial law in Lahore during the anti-Ahmadi riots of 1953. He attended Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and Command and Staff College in Quetta. He was hospitalized months before the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 with a broken ankle. In 1969, he was appointed sub-martial law administrator to Hyderabad by General Yahya Khan.

Rahimuddin then served as Chief Instructor at the Armed Forces War College at the then National Defence College, Rawalpindi until 1975. He was chosen to head the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and incipient nuclear programme by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto but declined.[6][7] As Lieutenant-General, he became Commander II Corps in Multan in 1976.[8] He refused heading Inter-Services Intelligence in 1977, and was made Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee by military dictator Zia-ul-Haq in 1984. He retired in 1987.

[edit] Judge of Mujibur Rahman's trial

In February 1971, Yahya Khan took then-Brigadier Rahimuddin off his 111 Brigade charge in Rawalpindi to preside over the military tribunal of Bengali leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Faisalabad. Rahimuddin was reportedly uncomfortable conducting the trial.[9] He left mid-proceedings to command the brigade during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971, but was recalled again by Yahya to award a verdict. Major General Iftikhar Janjua instead charged Naseerullah Babar with 111 Brigade. Following appeals from several officials in the United States Senate and House of Representatives, the Richard Nixon administration dissuaded Yahya from executing Rahimuddin's unconfirmed sentence,[10] and Yahya's successor Bhutto rescinded the verdict. The court proceedings were never made public.

[edit] Governor of Balochistan

Main article: 1970s Operation in Balochistan

The military operation in Balochistan, initiated against anti-state insurgents in 1973, had claimed thousands of lives.[3] Lieutenant-General Rahimuddin Khan was appointed Martial Law Administrator of Balochistan on the condition that he remain Commander II Corps.[11] He became provincial Governor on September 16, 1978.[12] Rahimuddin announced a general amnesty for belligerents willing to give up arms, and began withdrawal. He dismantled all civil administrations and severed government ties with local Sardars. The Baloch separatist movement came to a standstill.[13][14]

Rahimuddin's term also saw sustained development.[14] An electricity expansion plan from Quetta to Loralai converted vast areas with sub-soil water into orchards.[15] Following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Rahimuddin used the resultant foreign attention on Balochistan by introducing an externally financed development programme.[16] Forty million dollars (USD) were committed by the end of 1987, by which time Rahimuddin had resigned.[17] He expedited the regulation of Pakistan Petroleum Limited, the exploration company charged with the Sui gas field. He consolidated the then-contentious integration of Gwadar into Balochistan, notified as a district in 1977. Addressing the province's literacy rate, the lowest in the country,[18] he administered the freeing up of resources towards education, created girls' incentive programs, and had several girls' schools built in the Dera Bugti District. As part of his infrastructure schemes, he also forced his way in extending electricity to vast areas with subsoil water.[19]

[edit] Containment of Afghan refugees

With the Soviet war in Afghanistan, the Zia government began militarily and financially aiding the anti-communist Afghan mujahideen.[20] Millions of Afghan refugees, believed to be the largest refugee population in the world,[21] crossed over the porous border largely through to Balochistan and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.[22] Whereas in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa under the pro-guerrilla governor General Fazle Haq,[23] heroin freely entered with the mujahideen, to pay for sophisticated weaponry[24] under General Rahimuddin tightly controlled barbed wire military camps were established to prevent movement of the refugees within Balochistan throughout the duration of the nine-year war.[25] In retrospect, this prevented drugs and weaponry from infiltrating the province, despite becoming widespread in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.[26]

[edit] Mistaken identity in Al-Zulfikar hijack

In March 1981, the Al-Zulfikar terrorist organization hijacked a Pakistan International Airlines airplane from Karachi to Kabul.[27] Formed by Murtaza Bhutto, Al-Zulfikar was created to overthrow the military dictatorship that had ousted Bhutto's father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.[27][28] The hijackers threatened to murder hostages if state authorities did not release specific political prisoners. Upon the state's refusal, Al-Zulfikar shot and killed passenger Captain Tariq Rahim,[29] a man Murtaza Bhutto mistakenly believed to be the son of General Rahimuddin Khan.[29][30] The decision to kill Rahim was taken after consultations between Murtaza and KHAD chief Mohammad Najibullah.[31][32] Tariq Rahim had actually been a former aide-de-camp to the elder Bhutto.[33] The episode was ended when Zia-ul-Haq released the prisoners.

[edit] Governor of Sindh

Following Zia-ul-Haq's dismissing the government in 1988, Rahimuddin became Governor of Sindh, and governor's rule was imposed citing a collapse of administration.[34] Rahimuddin controversially dismissed Z.A. Nizami from the directorate of Karachi Development Authority,[35] and banned illegal construction.[36] He also immediately began pushing through legislature for administrative reform. He moved to create separate police forces for the city and the rural areas, but this was resisted after his resignation by those fearing greater complications in the Sindhi-Muhajir relationship.[37] Special riot control officers were trained to cope with ethnic riots or student challenges, and river and forest police were also set up to battle dacoity.[38] Ghulam Ishaq Khan became acting President after Zia's death in an aircrash on 17 August, and moved for the reintroduction of the Chief Minister of Sindh office. Rahimuddin abruptly resigned, some say as this was attempt to limit his gubernatorial powers.[39]

[edit] Legacy

Under Rahimuddin Khan, Foreign Policy Centre held that "the province's tribal sardars were taken out of the pale of politics for the first time."[40] Despite deepening animosity against the army, development is credited to Rahimuddin's term focusing on infrastructure and education.[19][41] However, his maneuvers for an increased share in gas revenue for Balochistan were overturned by the government in 1985. Rahimuddin Khan additionally oversaw the construction of nuclear test sites in Chaghai where tests were conducted under Nawaz Sharif in 1998. He was also known for integrity during the corruption-ridden Zia and Ghulam Ishaq regimes.[29] Balochistan remained relatively free of foreign militancy until the US war in Afghanistan triggered a fresh influx of the Taliban from 2001 onwards.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hindus Contribution Towards Making Of Pakistan 22 May 2010 Retrieved 28 January 2011
  2. ^ Balochis of Pakistan: On the Margins of History. United Kingdom: Foreign Policy Centre. 2006. p. 75. ISBN 978-1-905833-08-5. 
  3. ^ a b Marri, Balach Marri (2002). "A History of Oppression". http://www.balochvoice.com/SBF/Speech_by_Balach_Marri_SBF_14-8-02.html. Retrieved 2002-08-14. "Mr Bhutto didn’t wait long and ordered the army to move in to the interior of Balochistan and then dismissed the Governments both in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan...thousands of people were killed in those army operations, which continued for 5 years. Thousands were rendered homeless..." 
  4. ^ "Tribal Politics in Balochistan 1947-1990" Conclusion (1990) p.6
  5. ^ Bavadam, Lyla Bavadam (2008). "Brothers in arms". http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2521/stories/20081024252109100.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-27. "The cadets who left for Pakistan formed the First Course of the PMA. Gentleman Cadet No. 391 at the IMA, who became Cadet No. 1 at the PMA,and also honer of P.A(Pakistan Army) No 1, Rahim Uddin Khan, rose to the rank of General and became Joint Chief of Staff in Pakistan and, later, Governor of one of the provinces." 
  6. ^ Maulana Kausar Niazi The Last Days of Premier Bhutto p.60
  7. ^ Maulana Kausar Niazi The Last Days of Premier Bhutto p.61
  8. ^ Arif, Working with Zia, (1995), p.311
  9. ^ Shuja Nawaz (2007) "Crossed Swords: Pakistan, its Army and the Wars Within"
  10. ^ Matinuddin, Kamal Matinuddin (1994) "Tragedy of Errors: East Pakistan Crisis 1968-1971"
  11. ^ Arif, Khaki Shadows, (2002), p.211
  12. ^ Foreign Policy Centre, "On the Margins of History", (2008), p.35
  13. ^ Foreign Policy Centre, "On the Margins of History", (2008), p.36
  14. ^ a b "Newsline: A History of the Baloch Separatist Movement". Iaoj.wordpress.com. 2009-06-17. http://iaoj.wordpress.com/2009/06/17/balochistan-separate-ways/. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  15. ^ "Tribal Politics in Balochistan 1947-1990" Conclusion (1990) p.8
  16. ^ Emma Duncan, Breaking the Curfew, (1989), p.155
  17. ^ Emma Duncan, Breaking the Curfew, (1989), p.156
  18. ^ Daily Times (2007). "Balochistan home to lowest-literacy rate population in Pakistan". http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C06%5C12%5Cstory_12-6-2007_pg7_14. Retrieved 2009-01-05. "Balochistan is home to the largest number of school buildings that are falling apart. It also has the least number of educational institutions, the lowest literacy rate among both males and females." 
  19. ^ a b "Tribal Politics in Balochistan 1947-1990" Conclusion (1990) p.7
  20. ^ "Eduardo Real: "Zbigniew Brzezinski, Defeated by his Success"". Dangeroustravel.blogspot.com. http://dangeroustravel.blogspot.com/2008/01/defeated-by-his-success.html. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  21. ^ Amnesty International file on Afghanistan URL Accessed March 22, 2006
  22. ^ The Afghan War Settlement
  23. ^ "1982-1989: Fazle Haq Profile". Historycommons.org. 1999-02-22. http://www.historycommons.org/entity.jsp?entity=fazle_haq_1. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  24. ^ Kepel, Jihad, (2002), p.143-4
  25. ^ bo shan (2008-07-29). "Bo Shan: "Human-proof fencing"". Knol.google.com. http://knol.google.com/k/bo-shan/barbed-wire/10mr2hla1itt4/2#. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  26. ^ "9/11 Truths: Clarification from Scott regarding Fazle Haq". 911truth.org. http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20090223165146219. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  27. ^ a b 9/11 START| Terrorist Organization Profile: Al-Zulfikar[dead link]
  28. ^ Anwar, The Terrorist Prince, (1997), p.98
  29. ^ a b c "Hijackings". History of PIA. http://www.historyofpia.com/hijackings.htm. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  30. ^ Anwar, The Terrorist Prince, (1997), p.121
  31. ^ Anwar, The Terrorist Prince, (1997), p.106
  32. ^ Anwar, The Terrorist Prince, (1997), p.123
  33. ^ "Islamic Terrorism Timeline". Prophet of Doom. http://prophetofdoom.net/Islamic_Terrorism_Timeline_1981.Islam. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  34. ^ "The Far East and Central Asia" (2003) Regional Surveys of the World p. 1166
  35. ^ Cowasjee, Ardeshir Cowasjee (2002). "Karachi's Woes". http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/international-politics/4672-karachis-woes.html. Retrieved 2007-12-28. "For years Karachi was at the mercy of a plunderer of the KDA, Z A Nizami, until one fine day the then governor of Sindh, General Rahimuddin, realizing that enough was enough, sacked the man..." 
  36. ^ Ardeshir Cowasjee (2005). "Who can say? What?". Archived from the original on 2007-12-15. http://web.archive.org/web/20071215041134/http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/20050227.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-28. "The Bishop persisted. In July 1988, he asked Governor Rahimuddin for the plot, categorically stating that he did not intend to construct a building thereon but would use it as an open playground. The authorities held their ground." 
  37. ^ "Near East and South Asia- U.S. Department of Commerce (1999) p.35" (PDF). http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA369333&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  38. ^ "Near East and South Asia- U.S. Department of Commerce (1999) p.36" (PDF). http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA369333&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
  39. ^ Najam, Adil Najam (2006). "Ghulam Ishaq Khan Dead". http://pakistaniat.com/2006/10/27/ghulam-ishaq-khan-dead/comment-page-2/. Retrieved 2006-10-27. "Khan’s presidency also saw the resignation of General Rahimuddin Khan from the post of Governor of Sindh, due to differences between the two after Khan started restricting Rahimuddin’s vast amount of legislative power." 
  40. ^ Foreign Policy Centre "On the Margins of History" p. 30
  41. ^ "Newsline: Separate Ways". Newslinemagazine.com. http://www.newslinemagazine.com/2009/06/separate-ways/. Retrieved 2011-03-27. 
Political offices
Preceded by
Justice Khuda Bakhsh Marri		 Governor of Balochistan
1978–1984		 Succeeded by
Lt. Gen. Sardar F.S. Khan Lodi
Preceded by
Ashraf W. Tabani		 Governor of Sindh
1988		 Succeeded by
Qadeeruddin Ahmed
Military offices
Preceded by
Gen. Iqbal Khan		 Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
1984–1987		 Succeeded by
Gen. Akhtar Abdur Rahman
Chief Martial Law Administrators
Punjab
LGen Attiqur Rahman · LGen Ghulam Jilani Khan
Balochistan
LGen Rahimuddin Khan · LGen F.S. Khan Lodhi · LGen K.K. Afridi  · LGen Abdul Qadir Baloch
Sindh
LGen Rakhman Gul · LGen S.M. Abbasi
North-West Frontier Province
East Pakistan (former)
West Pakistan (former)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rahimuddin_Khan&oldid=471819098"
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