Asif Nawaz
Encyclopedia
General
Asif Nawaz Janjua, NI(M), HI(M), SBt (Bar), afwc, psc (3 January 1937 - 8 January 1993), was a senior four-star general and the 10th Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army
from August 16, 1991 till January 8, 1993. His tenure was cut short by his death after suffering a heart attack. His career highlights featured successful pacification operation in Sindh
when the province wilted under the most violent period in its history. He also stayed as Corps Commander Karachi and Chief of General Staff
before becoming the COAS.
His brother, Shuja Nawaz, is a political and strategic analyst, and the author of the seminal book on Pakistan Army
Crossed Swords: Pakistan, its Army, and the Wars Within.
into Janjua Muslim Rajput family. He was educated at St Mary's
, a mission school in Rawalpindi
, about which he later said that two Irish teachers, Fr Burns and Miss May Flanagan, had most influence in teaching him the values for his future career. He was the third generation of his family to join the Punjab Regiment
(5th Battalion, also known as Sherdils) and as an outstanding cadet went on a scholarship to [Royal Military Academy Sandhurst].
. He was one of the last Sandhurst-trained soldier (Pakistan Military Academy
was started later on) and known as a soldier's soldier with no political ambition. He spent most of his career in the field, holding command positions during the 1965 and 1971 wars with India. From 1982 to 1985 he commanded a division in Peshawar and then headed the Pakistan Military Academy
, Kakul until 1988. From April 1988 to March 1991 he was Corps Commander, Karachi, in charge of three army divisions. In April 1991 he became Chief of General Staff
and was appointed Chief of Army Staff in August 1991 with a tenure of three years.
He took over the command from the retiring General Mirza Aslam Beg
at a time when Pakistan's relations with the United States were at an all-time low because of Washington's suspicions about Islamabad's nuclear weapons program
.
, four generals were in the race to replace him: Lt Gen Shamim Alam Khan
, commander XXXI Corps, Bahawalpur
; Lt Gen Asif Nawaz, chief of general staff (CGS); Lt Gen Zulfiqar Akhtar Naz commander I Corps
, Mangla ; and Lt Gen Hamid Gul, commander II Corps
, Multan
. The senior two were promoted as four-star generals, with Shamim Alam Khan
being named as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Lt Gen Asif Nawaz, who also came recommended by Gen Rahimuddin Khan
, was appointed the Chief of Army Staff to replace Mirza Aslam Beg on 11 June 1991 by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan
.
Shortly after being named to the post, General Nawaz said the army had no role in politics other than to defend the civilian government and the country. The army's image had been tarnished and its officers corrupted in Pakistan's 25 years of martial law, he said. Nawaz, whose views tended to be pro-Western, spent much of his brief tenure as COAS trying to improve ties between Pakistan and the United States, the two formerly staunch allies. As a strong believer in liberal values, he was trying to improve the military's relations with India and take Pakistan out of the dead-end legacy of Islamic fundamentalist rhetoric left by his two predecessors, General Zia ul-Haq and General Aslam Beg. During Nawaz's tenure, the army took on the surprising role of becoming a protector of a free press and liberal values of criticism.
His tenure as Chief of Army Staff was ended abruptly by his death on 8 January 1993, apparently from a heart attack
. He suffered the heart attack while he was jogging near his home in Rawalpindi. He is widely remembered as having died under mysterious circumstances. He was replaced by General Abdul Waheed Kakar as the next Army Chief.
being filed against Brigadier Imtiaz
, the then Director Intelligence Bureau. The issue gathered momentum following General Nawaz's widow Nuzhat Janjua's filed a formal complaint to the then President Ghulam Ishaq Khan
about the unnatural circumstances surrounding her husband's death. At the time the General Asif Nawaz had been heading up "Operation Clean-Hands"- an army probe to curb political violence in Karachi
, which lost impetus after he died.
He was survived by his wife and two daughters. one thing is still unanswered that what were the origina motives of death.reference ch fakhar gul
, former Prime Minister, then described Nawaz as "a true professional soldier," and further stated that "he did what he said he would do -- he kept the army out of politics." Unlike many of his predecessors, Nawaz was incorruptible and often talked of how he would relax when he retired, unlike other generals who plunged into politics.
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General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Asif Nawaz Janjua, NI(M), HI(M), SBt (Bar), afwc, psc (3 January 1937 - 8 January 1993), was a senior four-star general and the 10th Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
from August 16, 1991 till January 8, 1993. His tenure was cut short by his death after suffering a heart attack. His career highlights featured successful pacification operation in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
when the province wilted under the most violent period in its history. He also stayed as Corps Commander Karachi and Chief of General Staff
Chief of General Staff (Pakistan)
Chief of General Staff, shortly abbreviated as CGS, is the most coveted position within the Pakistan Army. Although four-star Chief of Army Staff is the nominal head of the land forces, CGS is the operational and intelligence lead of the institution...
before becoming the COAS.
His brother, Shuja Nawaz, is a political and strategic analyst, and the author of the seminal book on Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
Crossed Swords: Pakistan, its Army, and the Wars Within.
Early life
Asif Nawaz was born in the village of Chakri of Jhelum DistrictJhelum District
Jhelum District is in the Punjab province of Pakistan. According the 1998 census the district had a population of 936,957, of which 31.48% were urban. Jhelum is known for providing a large number of soldiers to the British and later to the Pakistan armed forces due to which it is also known as...
into Janjua Muslim Rajput family. He was educated at St Mary's
St Mary's Cambridge School
St Mary's Cambridge School is a high school situated on Murree Road in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.- History :Saint Mary's Cambridge High School is one of the oldest independent schools of Rawalpindi. The first owner of the school was Mr. Faiq Ayubi. It is housed in an old building which was previously...
, a mission school in Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
, about which he later said that two Irish teachers, Fr Burns and Miss May Flanagan, had most influence in teaching him the values for his future career. He was the third generation of his family to join the Punjab Regiment
Punjab Regiment (Pakistan)
The Punjab Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Pakistan Army. The modern regiment was formed in 1956 from an amalgamation of the 1st Punjab Regiment, 14th Punjab Regiment, 15th Punjab Regiment and 16th Punjab Regiment...
(5th Battalion, also known as Sherdils) and as an outstanding cadet went on a scholarship to [Royal Military Academy Sandhurst].
Military career
He was commissioned in the Punjab Regiment on 31 March 1957 in the 15th PMA Long Course and received his initial training from Royal Military Academy SandhurstRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
. He was one of the last Sandhurst-trained soldier (Pakistan Military Academy
Pakistan Military Academy
The Pakistan Military Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service military academy. It is located at Kakul near Abbottabad in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan....
was started later on) and known as a soldier's soldier with no political ambition. He spent most of his career in the field, holding command positions during the 1965 and 1971 wars with India. From 1982 to 1985 he commanded a division in Peshawar and then headed the Pakistan Military Academy
Pakistan Military Academy
The Pakistan Military Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service military academy. It is located at Kakul near Abbottabad in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan....
, Kakul until 1988. From April 1988 to March 1991 he was Corps Commander, Karachi, in charge of three army divisions. In April 1991 he became Chief of General Staff
Chief of General Staff (Pakistan)
Chief of General Staff, shortly abbreviated as CGS, is the most coveted position within the Pakistan Army. Although four-star Chief of Army Staff is the nominal head of the land forces, CGS is the operational and intelligence lead of the institution...
and was appointed Chief of Army Staff in August 1991 with a tenure of three years.
He took over the command from the retiring General Mirza Aslam Beg
Mirza Aslam Beg
General Mirza Aslam Beg, SBt, HI, NI, afwc, psc , is a retired four-star general who was the Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army succeeding General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, after the latter died in an air crash on 17 August 1988...
at a time when Pakistan's relations with the United States were at an all-time low because of Washington's suspicions about Islamabad's nuclear weapons program
Pakistan and weapons of mass destruction
Pakistan began focusing on nuclear weapons development in January 1972 under the leadership of Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, who delegated the program to the Chairman of PAEC Munir Ahmad Khan...
.
Chief of Army Staff
At the completion of three-year term of General Mirza Aslam BegMirza Aslam Beg
General Mirza Aslam Beg, SBt, HI, NI, afwc, psc , is a retired four-star general who was the Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army succeeding General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, after the latter died in an air crash on 17 August 1988...
, four generals were in the race to replace him: Lt Gen Shamim Alam Khan
Shamim Alam Khan
General Shamim Alam Khan, NI, SJ, SBt, is a retired four-star rank general in the Pakistan Army was the Supreme Commandant of the Pakistan Defense Forces as Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee from 1991 to 1994...
, commander XXXI Corps, Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur
Bahawalpur , located in the province of Punjab, is the twelfth largest city in Pakistan. The city was once the capital of the former princely state of Bahawalpur. The city was home to various Nawabs and counted as part of the Rajputana states...
; Lt Gen Asif Nawaz, chief of general staff (CGS); Lt Gen Zulfiqar Akhtar Naz commander I Corps
I Corps (Pakistan)
The I Corps, also known as I Strike Corps, of the Pakistan Army headquartered in Mangla, Azad Kashimir Province of Pakistan. Known as I Strike Corps, it is one of two strike corps within its ten manouvre Army corps...
, Mangla ; and Lt Gen Hamid Gul, commander II Corps
II Corps (Pakistan)
The II Corps, known as II Strike Corps or Army Reserve South, is army corps of Pakistan Army stationed in Multan, Punjab Province of Pakistan. The II Strike Corps is one of Pakistan's four heavy armoured corps...
, Multan
Multan
Multan , is a city in the Punjab Province of Pakistan and capital of Multan District. It is located in the southern part of the province on the east bank of the Chenab River, more or less in the geographic centre of the country and about from Islamabad, from Lahore and from Karachi...
. The senior two were promoted as four-star generals, with Shamim Alam Khan
Shamim Alam Khan
General Shamim Alam Khan, NI, SJ, SBt, is a retired four-star rank general in the Pakistan Army was the Supreme Commandant of the Pakistan Defense Forces as Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee from 1991 to 1994...
being named as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and Lt Gen Asif Nawaz, who also came recommended by Gen Rahimuddin Khan
Rahimuddin Khan
Rahimuddin Khan Afridi is a retired four-star general of the Pakistan Army who was the fourth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee from 1984 to 1987. He was also the longest-serving Governor and martial law administrator of Balochistan, from 1978 to when he resigned in 1984...
, was appointed the Chief of Army Staff to replace Mirza Aslam Beg on 11 June 1991 by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan
Ghulam Ishaq Khan
Ghulam Ishaq Khan , abbreviated as GIK, was the seventh President of Pakistan from August 17, 1988 until July 18, 1993 and a career statesman from the start to the end of cold war...
.
Shortly after being named to the post, General Nawaz said the army had no role in politics other than to defend the civilian government and the country. The army's image had been tarnished and its officers corrupted in Pakistan's 25 years of martial law, he said. Nawaz, whose views tended to be pro-Western, spent much of his brief tenure as COAS trying to improve ties between Pakistan and the United States, the two formerly staunch allies. As a strong believer in liberal values, he was trying to improve the military's relations with India and take Pakistan out of the dead-end legacy of Islamic fundamentalist rhetoric left by his two predecessors, General Zia ul-Haq and General Aslam Beg. During Nawaz's tenure, the army took on the surprising role of becoming a protector of a free press and liberal values of criticism.
Sindh operations
It was in Karachi and Sindh where Asif Nawaz came to political prominence as the province wilted under the most violent period in its history. Ethnic battles between Sindhis and Muhajirs claimed thousands of lives, and General Nawaz's troops were frequently called upon to impose curfews and break the civil strife. In a celebrated incident he was instrumental in organising a handover of 'prisoners of war' between ethnic extremist groups. His experience in Sindh stood him in good stead when the government asked the army to take over law and order in Sindh last year for a six-month period.His tenure as Chief of Army Staff was ended abruptly by his death on 8 January 1993, apparently from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. He suffered the heart attack while he was jogging near his home in Rawalpindi. He is widely remembered as having died under mysterious circumstances. He was replaced by General Abdul Waheed Kakar as the next Army Chief.
Controversial death
The untimely demise of General Asif Nawaz fuelled much controversy, with FIRsFirst Information Report
A First Information Report or FIR is a written document prepared by the police in India, Pakistan and Japan when they receive information about the commission of a cognizable offence. It is a report of information that reaches the police first in point of time and that is why it is called the First...
being filed against Brigadier Imtiaz
Brigadier Imtiaz
Brigadier Imtiaz Ahmed is a retired one-star general of the Pakistan Army who served as a former director-general of Intelligence Bureau between 1990–1993. As a one-star general, Brigadier Imatiaz Ahmad had served as a former senior intelligence operative in the Inter-Services Intelligence...
, the then Director Intelligence Bureau. The issue gathered momentum following General Nawaz's widow Nuzhat Janjua's filed a formal complaint to the then President Ghulam Ishaq Khan
Ghulam Ishaq Khan
Ghulam Ishaq Khan , abbreviated as GIK, was the seventh President of Pakistan from August 17, 1988 until July 18, 1993 and a career statesman from the start to the end of cold war...
about the unnatural circumstances surrounding her husband's death. At the time the General Asif Nawaz had been heading up "Operation Clean-Hands"- an army probe to curb political violence in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
, which lost impetus after he died.
He was survived by his wife and two daughters. one thing is still unanswered that what were the origina motives of death.reference ch fakhar gul
Legacy
Benazir BhuttoBenazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto was a democratic socialist who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from 1988 until 1990 and 1993 until 1996....
, former Prime Minister, then described Nawaz as "a true professional soldier," and further stated that "he did what he said he would do -- he kept the army out of politics." Unlike many of his predecessors, Nawaz was incorruptible and often talked of how he would relax when he retired, unlike other generals who plunged into politics.
External links
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