Zahirul Islam Abbasi
Encyclopedia
Major General
Zahirul Islam Abbasi ( in 12 January 1943 - 30 July 2009), was a former commander and officer of the Pakistani Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence
agency of the Pakistani Armed Forces. Serving in the Siachen region of the disputed territory of Kashmir
, Abbasi planned and executed assaults on posts occupied by the Indian Army
. Abbasi was accused and convicted for a period of 7 years for being party to a coup d'état
against the civilian government of Benazir Bhutto
in 1995 while he was still a serving Major General in Pakistan Army. No political party was linked to this coup attempt as determined by the courts.
of the Pakistan Army around 1963. As a Captain in the army, he was appointed the adjutant of Cadet College Petaro
in 1966. He served in that position until 1969. In 1972, he got married to Shahida Zaheer, daughter of A.A. Shaikh, who was one of the senior teachers at Cadet College Petaro
. Abbasi has four children - two sons and two daughters.
Abbasi participated in the 1971 war against India from the western front. His overall performance was rated very high and he rose up through the ranks to become a brigadier-general by the mid-1980s.Abbasi remained a part of the military establishment as long as he was in service with no links to any political or religious groups as per the tradition of the army which remained secular in nature against the will of the people of Pakistan.
Abbasi worked as an intelligence and military officer in liaison with Afghan Mujahideen resisting the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan (1980–1986). In 1987-1988, Brigadier Abbasi also served as the Military Attaché at the Pakistani embassy in New Delhi
, India. Both India and Pakistan have brigadiers in the position of Military Attaché in their respective embassies. On December 1, 1988 New Delhi police arrested Abbasi in a meeting with an alleged Indian contact. As no information or documents could be obtained from him, the Indian government was forced to release him within hours, chose to declare him persona non grata
and expelled him from India.
in violation of the Simla Agreement. Pakistan immediately rushed its forces to the area, which led to a war-like situation that has lasted since them. Many Pakistani and Indian soldiers were killed in high-altitude warfare involving thousands of soldiers. As a Brigadier, Abbasi was deployed as a unit commander in the Siachen area in 1991. Abbasi opposed the restraint imposed by the army under prime minister Nawaz Sharif
, and planned an assault with a group of army officers. Striving to seize key posts. Abbasi and his allies were removed from their posts by the army chief Gen. Asif Nawaz
.
and the army chief Gen. Abdul Waheed Kakar in 1995. At the time of the attempted coup, Abbasi was holding the post of director-general of infantry corps at the army General Headquarters GHQ - a staff position where he did not command any troops. Attempting to gather a group of senior officers and military commanders, Abbasi was accused of planning to assassinate Bhutto, Kakar, senior cabinet ministers and the military chiefs and proclaim the establishment of Islamic law in Pakistan, and taking over the government.
The plot was foiled when it was uncovered by Lt. Gen. Ali Kuli Khan
, then Director General Military Intelligence (DGMI). The coup plotters were arrested, and following a court-martial
, Abbasi was moved to the civilian central prison at Haripur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to one of the earliest reports, "Diplomats and politicians in Islamabad tell a different story. They say the arrested officers were not planning a coup, but were supplying arms to separatists fighting in Indian Kashmir. Bhutto, these sources say, was responding to pressure from Washington to crack down on military support to the rebels in violation of official policy. The U.S. has been seeking a solution to the Kashmir dispute and is eager to see an end to tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi."
With one of the co-conspirators Qari Saifullah turning an "approver" (government witness), the military court determined that Abbasi was not the main plotter in the attempted coup and was therefore given a lighter sentence of only 7 years as compared to the other army officers like Brigadier Mustansir Billah who were convicted for terms up to 14 years. The coup was not considered serious enough to grant a death sentence to any of the plotters. Qari Saifullah was not convicted as a part of the deal with the government for his becoming a witness.
in 1997 for a review of his case. With his military career over, Abbasi moved to organise a political party with the aim of creating awareness and establishing the rule of Islamic law through constitutional change. Abbasi recently formed another political party called the Azmat-e-Islam
party with the same objectives.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Zahirul Islam Abbasi ( in 12 January 1943 - 30 July 2009), was a former commander and officer of the Pakistani Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence
Inter-Services Intelligence
The Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence , is Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, responsible for providing critical national security intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan...
agency of the Pakistani Armed Forces. Serving in the Siachen region of the disputed territory of Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
, Abbasi planned and executed assaults on posts occupied by the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
. Abbasi was accused and convicted for a period of 7 years for being party to a coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
against the civilian government of 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....
in 1995 while he was still a serving Major General in Pakistan Army. No political party was linked to this coup attempt as determined by the courts.
Military and intelligence career
Abbasi was commissioned into the Baloch RegimentBaloch Regiment
The Baloch Regiment is an infantry regiment of Pakistan Army. The modern regiment was formed in May 1956 by the merger of 8th Punjab and Bahawalpur Regiments with the Baluch Regiment. Since then, further raisings have brought the strength of the Regiment to more than fifty battalions...
of the Pakistan Army around 1963. As a Captain in the army, he was appointed the adjutant of Cadet College Petaro
Cadet College Petaro
Cadet College Petaro is an educational institution from grade 8 to grade 12, in the southern province of Sindh in Pakistan about 20 miles from Hyderabad...
in 1966. He served in that position until 1969. In 1972, he got married to Shahida Zaheer, daughter of A.A. Shaikh, who was one of the senior teachers at Cadet College Petaro
Cadet College Petaro
Cadet College Petaro is an educational institution from grade 8 to grade 12, in the southern province of Sindh in Pakistan about 20 miles from Hyderabad...
. Abbasi has four children - two sons and two daughters.
Abbasi participated in the 1971 war against India from the western front. His overall performance was rated very high and he rose up through the ranks to become a brigadier-general by the mid-1980s.Abbasi remained a part of the military establishment as long as he was in service with no links to any political or religious groups as per the tradition of the army which remained secular in nature against the will of the people of Pakistan.
Abbasi worked as an intelligence and military officer in liaison with Afghan Mujahideen resisting the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan (1980–1986). In 1987-1988, Brigadier Abbasi also served as the Military Attaché at the Pakistani embassy in New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, India. Both India and Pakistan have brigadiers in the position of Military Attaché in their respective embassies. On December 1, 1988 New Delhi police arrested Abbasi in a meeting with an alleged Indian contact. As no information or documents could be obtained from him, the Indian government was forced to release him within hours, chose to declare him persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
and expelled him from India.
Siachen assault
In April 1984, India occupied the high ground around the Siachen GlacierSiachen Glacier
The Siachen Glacier is located in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalaya Mountains at about , just east of the Line of Control between India-Pakistan. India controls all of the Siachen Glacier itself, including all tributary glaciers. At long, it is the longest glacier in the Karakoram and...
in violation of the Simla Agreement. Pakistan immediately rushed its forces to the area, which led to a war-like situation that has lasted since them. Many Pakistani and Indian soldiers were killed in high-altitude warfare involving thousands of soldiers. As a Brigadier, Abbasi was deployed as a unit commander in the Siachen area in 1991. Abbasi opposed the restraint imposed by the army under prime minister 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...
, and planned an assault with a group of army officers. Striving to seize key posts. Abbasi and his allies were removed from their posts by the army chief 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...
.
Coup attempt
Dropped from further promotion in the army command and due to dissatisfaction with the affairs in the country, Major General Abbasi allegedly plotted a coup against the civilian government of prime minister 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....
and the army chief Gen. Abdul Waheed Kakar in 1995. At the time of the attempted coup, Abbasi was holding the post of director-general of infantry corps at the army General Headquarters GHQ - a staff position where he did not command any troops. Attempting to gather a group of senior officers and military commanders, Abbasi was accused of planning to assassinate Bhutto, Kakar, senior cabinet ministers and the military chiefs and proclaim the establishment of Islamic law in Pakistan, and taking over the government.
The plot was foiled when it was uncovered by Lt. Gen. Ali Kuli Khan
Ali Kuli Khan
Lieutenant General Ali Kuli Khan Khattak, is senior retired three-star general and military strategist who was a former Chief of General Staff , Commander X Corps and Director General Military Intelligence of the Pakistan Army who was superseded when the then Lieutenant General Pervez Musharraf...
, then Director General Military Intelligence (DGMI). The coup plotters were arrested, and following a court-martial
Court-martial
A court-martial is a military court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of members of the armed forces subject to military law, and, if the defendant is found guilty, to decide upon punishment.Most militaries maintain a court-martial system to try cases in which a breach of...
, Abbasi was moved to the civilian central prison at Haripur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to one of the earliest reports, "Diplomats and politicians in Islamabad tell a different story. They say the arrested officers were not planning a coup, but were supplying arms to separatists fighting in Indian Kashmir. Bhutto, these sources say, was responding to pressure from Washington to crack down on military support to the rebels in violation of official policy. The U.S. has been seeking a solution to the Kashmir dispute and is eager to see an end to tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi."
With one of the co-conspirators Qari Saifullah turning an "approver" (government witness), the military court determined that Abbasi was not the main plotter in the attempted coup and was therefore given a lighter sentence of only 7 years as compared to the other army officers like Brigadier Mustansir Billah who were convicted for terms up to 14 years. The coup was not considered serious enough to grant a death sentence to any of the plotters. Qari Saifullah was not convicted as a part of the deal with the government for his becoming a witness.
Release
Abbasi's imprisonment started in 1995 and he was to remain in prison for 7 years, i.e. until 2002. During his period of imprisonment, Abbasi lodged an appeal to Supreme Court of PakistanSupreme Court of Pakistan
The Supreme Court is the apex court in Pakistan's judicial hierarchy, the final arbiter of legal and constitutional disputes. The Supreme Court has a permanent seat in Islamabad. It has number of Branch Registries where cases are heard. It has a number of de jure powers which are outlined in the...
in 1997 for a review of his case. With his military career over, Abbasi moved to organise a political party with the aim of creating awareness and establishing the rule of Islamic law through constitutional change. Abbasi recently formed another political party called the Azmat-e-Islam
Azmat-e-Islam Bedar Pakistan
Azmat-e-Islam and Bedar Pakistan are working in collaboration in Pakistan that aims to establish a tax and interest free Islamic state. Most prominent leaders of both the parties are Maj. Gen...
party with the same objectives.
See also
- 1995 Pakistani coup d'état attempt1995 Pakistani coup d'état attemptThe Pakistan coup attempt of 1995 was a secretive plot hatched by renegade military officers and against the government of Benazir Bhutto, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. The plotters aimed to overthrow the constitutional government and establish an Military Rule in Pakistan...
- Zia-ul-Haq's IslamizationZia-ul-Haq's IslamizationOn December 2, 1978, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq delivered a nationwide address on the occasion of the first day of the Hijra calendar. He did this in order to usher in an Islamic system to Pakistan...
- Benazir BhuttoBenazir BhuttoBenazir 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....
- IslamismIslamismIslamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
- Siachen conflictSiachen conflictThe Siachen Conflict, sometimes referred to as the Siachen War, is a military conflict between India and Pakistan over the disputed Siachen Glacier region in Kashmir. The conflict began in 1984 with India's successful Operation Meghdoot during which it wrested control of the Siachen Glacier from...
- History of the Kashmir conflict
- History of PakistanHistory of PakistanThe 1st known inhabitants of the modern-day Pakistan region are believed to have been the Soanian , who settled in the Soan Valley and Riwat almost 2 million years ago. Over the next several thousand years, the region would develop into various civilizations like Mehrgarh and the Indus Valley...
- Inter-Services IntelligenceInter-Services IntelligenceThe Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence , is Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, responsible for providing critical national security intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan...
- Pakistani Armed Forces
- Cadet College PetaroCadet College PetaroCadet College Petaro is an educational institution from grade 8 to grade 12, in the southern province of Sindh in Pakistan about 20 miles from Hyderabad...