Mohammad Shafiq
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Mohammad Shafiq (born April 1934) is a career Pakistan Army soldier who served as the governor of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa from 1999 to 2000. He was appointed to that position on 21 October 1999 by General Pervez Musharraf
after he overthrew the Nawaz Sharif
government on 12 October. He was later replaced by another officer Lt. Gen. (R) Iftikhar Hussain Shah
on 14 August 2000. He then served a stint as Pakistani Ambassador to Bahrain from 2000 to 2002.
in April 1934. An infantry officer, Shafiq was commissioned in the Punjab Regiment
in March 1956 in the 13th PMA Long Course.
after when his name was discovered in the aborted coup plotted by Maj Gen (retd) Tajammal Hussain Malik. An immediate arrest by the Pakistani military police
, he was freed on the request of former Commander-in-Chief General Muhammad Musa and was posted abroad. He came back to become the Inspector General of the Frontier Corps
from 1986 to 1988.
at Bahawalpur. It was at this time when President-General Zia-ul-Haq's airplane crashed near the city on 17 August 1988, killing everyone on board including Zia and the American ambassador Arnold Lewis Raphel
. Later, the investigation to determine the cause of crash was carried on under Lt. Gen. Shafiq, but was obstructed under his command. Journalist Khaled Ahmed
quotes the then Karachi corps commander Lt Gen Asif Nawaz
(later Army chief) asking Lt. Gen. Shafiq about steps being taken to investigate the cause of crash. To his astonishment, Lt Gen Shafiq replies that "Zia had met his end and there was no need to do anything about it, clearly indicating Shafiq’s intent to block all investigation into the incident." He retired from the army in 1991.
when Benazir Bhutto
came to power in 1993, but he chose to retire before completing his term. Known to be a mild and soft-spoken person, General Shafiq underwent a heart bypass in 1998.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Mohammad Shafiq (born April 1934) is a career Pakistan Army soldier who served as the governor of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa from 1999 to 2000. He was appointed to that position on 21 October 1999 by General Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf , is a retired four-star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff and tenth President of Pakistan as well as tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrative military government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled...
after he overthrew the Nawaz Sharif
Nawaz Sharif
Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani conservative politician and steel magnate who served as 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan in two non-consecutive terms from November 1990 to July 1993, and from February 1997 to October 12, 1999...
government on 12 October. He was later replaced by another officer Lt. Gen. (R) Iftikhar Hussain Shah
Iftikhar Hussain Shah
Lieutenant General Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah was a former governor of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. Iftikhar Hussain Shah was commissioned in the Pakistan Army in October 1964 in 30th PMA Long Course and joined an anti-aircraft unit of the Regiment of Artillery...
on 14 August 2000. He then served a stint as Pakistani Ambassador to Bahrain from 2000 to 2002.
Early Life and Army Career
Mohammad Shafiq was born in Shinokhel village of KohatKohat
Kohat is a medium sized town in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. It is located at 33°35'13N 71°26'29E with an altitude of 489 metres and is the capital of Kohat District. The town centres around a British-era fort, various bazaars, and a military cantonment. A British-built narrow gauge...
in April 1934. An infantry officer, Shafiq was commissioned in 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...
in March 1956 in the 13th PMA Long Course.
Political Rivalry with Zia and Imprisonment
During his army career, then-Maj. Gen. Shafiq stayed as the Military Secretary to the President GeneralZia ul Haq, but was later imprisoned by the order of Judge Advocate General BranchJudge Advocate General Branch
The Judge Advocate General Branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces is composed of Pakistan's Military senior officers, lawyers and judges who provide legal services to the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines at all levels of command...
after when his name was discovered in the aborted coup plotted by Maj Gen (retd) Tajammal Hussain Malik. An immediate arrest by the Pakistani military police
Pakistan Rangers
The Pakistan Rangers are part of the Paramilitary forces of Pakistan, and consists of members of the Pakistan Army under the direct control of the Ministry of the Interior of the Pakistan Government. The Rangers are an internal security force with the prime objective to provide and maintain...
, he was freed on the request of former Commander-in-Chief General Muhammad Musa and was posted abroad. He came back to become the Inspector General of the Frontier Corps
Frontier Corps
The Frontier Corps is a federally-controlled paramilitary force of Pakistan, recruited mostly from the tribal areas along the western borders and led by officers from the Pakistan Army...
from 1986 to 1988.
Investigation of Zia's Death
Shafiq was then promoted to Lt Gen and posted as the commander of the XXXI CorpsXXXI Corps (Pakistan)
The XXXI Corps is an active military administrative corps of is one of the Pakistan Army. Commonly known as 10th Corps, it is currently assigned to active corps Punjab Province. The corps is currently the major part of Southern Military Command of Pakistan Defence Forces...
at Bahawalpur. It was at this time when President-General Zia-ul-Haq's airplane crashed near the city on 17 August 1988, killing everyone on board including Zia and the American ambassador Arnold Lewis Raphel
Arnold Lewis Raphel
Arnold Lewis Raphel was the 18th U.S. ambassador in Pakistan. He was killed when a plane in which he was a passenger mysteriously crashed near Bhawalpur with then Pakistani President Zia ul-Haq and Brigadier General Herbert M. Wassom, chief of the U.S. military group in Pakistan on August 17,...
. Later, the investigation to determine the cause of crash was carried on under Lt. Gen. Shafiq, but was obstructed under his command. Journalist Khaled Ahmed
Khaled Ahmed
Khaled Ahmed , born 21 December 1943, is a best known Pakistani political analyst, his weekly column appears in Pakistan's newspaper The Friday Times. He regularly contributes to The Daily Times, both published in Lahore....
quotes the then Karachi corps commander Lt Gen Asif Nawaz
Asif Nawaz
General Asif Nawaz Janjua, NI, HI, SBt , afwc, psc , 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...
(later Army chief) asking Lt. Gen. Shafiq about steps being taken to investigate the cause of crash. To his astonishment, Lt Gen Shafiq replies that "Zia had met his end and there was no need to do anything about it, clearly indicating Shafiq’s intent to block all investigation into the incident." He retired from the army in 1991.
Post Retirement Activities
After retiring from the army, Shafiq served as chairman of the prime minister's inspection team until 1993. During the caretaker government of Moeen Qureshi, General Shafiq remained a federal minister, looking after the affairs of at least six federal ministries. He was appointed the first chief executive of the Northern AreasNorthern Areas
Gilgit-Baltistan , is the northernmost political entity within Pakistan. It borders Pakistan's Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province to the west, Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor to the north, China to the east and northeast, Azad Kashmir to the southwest, and Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir to the...
when Benazir Bhutto
Benazir 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....
came to power in 1993, but he chose to retire before completing his term. Known to be a mild and soft-spoken person, General Shafiq underwent a heart bypass in 1998.