Summary
Mohammed Attiqur Rahman (Punjabi, Urdu: محمد عتیق الرحمان), MC (24 June 1918 – 1 June 1996) was a senior general in the Pakistan Army, a noted military historian, and a senior government official. He was the martial law administrator (MLA) of West Pakistan in General Yahya Khan's military regime.[1] He was educated at St.Paul's school, London and joined IMA in 1939 with a sword of Honour and then joined 4th/12th FFR. He was the last Governor of West Pakistan and implemented the dissolution of the One Unit scheme, after which he became the first Governor of Punjab province.
Mohammed Attiqur Rahman | |
|---|---|
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| 14th Governor of Punjab | |
| In office 1 July 1970 – 23 December 1971 | |
| President | |
| Preceded by | Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani |
| Succeeded by | Ghulam Mustafa Khar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mohammad Attiqur Rahman 24 June 1918 Rawalpindi District, Punjab, British Raj |
| Died | 1 June 1996 (aged 77) Lahore, Punjab |
| Resting place | former National Accountability Bureau |
| Parent | |
| Alma mater | |
| Awards |  Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam Sitara-e-Pakistan Military Cross |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
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| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 1940–1971 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Unit | Infantry (4/12 FF Regiment) |
| Commands |
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| Battles/wars | |
| Post-Retirement Work | Civil servant and former Governor of the Punjab |
Early life edit
Born on 24 June 1918, Rahman was the son of Lt Colonel Abdur Rahman, RIAMC. Rahman was schooled at St Paul's in London, UK, and then joined the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, British India, where he was awarded the Sword of Honor and the silver spurs as the best all-round Gentleman Cadet.
Military service edit
Commissioned on 1 February 1940, Rahman joined the 4/12th Frontier Force Regiment (a.k.a. "Charwanja") and was posted to Thall, Kurram Agency, (Ahmedzai Operations) then to Datta Khel (Lower Tochi Operations). In November 1941, his battalion went to join General Slim's Fourteenth Army to fight in Burma. His best friend in the battalion was Major Sam Manekshaw, later a field marshal, with whom he had a lifelong friendship.
In 1966, promoted to lieutenant general, he commanded his first corps, IV Corps, then headquartered at Multan (later it was moved to Lahore). When General Yahya Khan's martial law was instituted on 25 March 1969, Rahman was appointed Martial Law Administrator (MLA), Zone A (West Pakistan), due to his position as Commander IV Corps. In August 1969, Rahman was relieved by Tikka Khan and moved to I Corps at Mangla. Rahman stayed there until February 1970. He was then replaced by Lt Gen Irshad Ahmed Khan. Rahman was appointed as the Governor of West Pakistan in February 1970, replacing Air Marshal Nur Khan. He stayed as governor until the breakup of One Unit in 1971, and then became Governor of Punjab. He retired from the army and from the governorship in December 1971.[2]
Military analyst edit
After retirement in December 1971, he wrote extensively on military issues. In 1977, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq appointed him as Chairman of the Federal Public Services Commission, holding this position until 1985.
Awards and decorations edit
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| Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam
(HQA) |
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| Sitara-e-Pakistan
(SPk) |
Tamgha-e-Diffa
(General Service Medal) 1. 1965 War Clasp |
Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War
(War Star 1965) |
Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War
(War Medal 1965) |
| Pakistan Tamgha
1947 |
Tamgha-e-Jamhuria
(Republic Commemoration Medal) 1956 |
'Military Cross'[3][4] | 1939-1945 Star |
| Burma Star | War Medal | India Service Medal | Queen Elizabeth II
(1953) |
Foreign Decorations edit
| Foreign Awards | ||
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 UK
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'Military Cross'[3][4] (MC) |
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| 1939-1945 Star |
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| Burma Star |
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| War Medal 1939-1945 |
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| India Service Medal 1939–1945 |
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| Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal |
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Works edit
- Rahman, Mohammed Attiqur (1973). Leadership: Junior Commanders.
- Rahman, Mohammed Attiqur (1973). Leadership: Senior Commanders.
- Rahman, Mohammed Attiqur (1976). Our Defence Cause: An analysis of Pakistan's past and future military role.
- Rahman, Mohammed Attiqur (1978). Reflections on Infantry.
- Rahman, Mohammed Attiqur (1980). Wardens of the Marches: a history of the Piffers, 1947-1971.
- Rahman, Mohammed Attiqur (1981). Reflections on the principles of surprise and deception.
- Rahman, Mohammed Attiqur (2005). Back to the pavilion. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-597861-7.
References edit
- ^ Pakistan : Martial Law "Who's Who" Archived 23 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine The American Papers – Secret and Confidential India.Pakistan.Bangladesh Documents 1965-1973, 26 March 1969
- ^ Back to the pavilion LT Gen. Attique Rahman
- ^ a b "Page 4570 | Supplement 36730, 3 October 1944 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
- ^ a b Recommendation for Award for Mohammad Attiqur Rahman Rank: Temporary Major ... 1944.
External links edit
- Herr Generalfeldmarschall Attiq von Rachmann by Ardeshir Cowasjee (Dawn)