Attiqur Rahman

LTG Attiqur Rahman
Governor of Punjab (Pakistan)
In office 1 July, 1970 – December, 1971
President	General Yahya Khan
Preceded by	Mushtaq Ahmed Gurmani
Succeeded by	Ghulam Mustafa Khar
Personal details
Born	Mohammad Attiqur Rahman June 24, 1918(1918-06-24) Rawalpindi District, British Raj
Died	June 1, 1996(1996-06-01) (aged 77) Lahore Punjab
Nationality	Pakistani
Alma mater	St Paul's School Indian Military Academy
Profession	Soldier, General
Military service
Allegiance	Pakistan
Service/branch	Pakistan Army (PA-103)
Years of service	1940 – 1971
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	Infantry (4/12 FF Regiment)
Commands	Vice Chief of General Staff (VCGS) 15th Infantry Division, Sialkot 7th Infantry Division, Peshawar Adjutant General (AG) 12th Infantry Division, Murree IV Corps, Multan (later Lahore) I Corps, Mangla
Battles/wars	Burma Campaign Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Awards	Hilal-i-Quaid-i-Azam (HQA) Sitara-i-Pakistan (SPk) Military Cross (MC)
Post-Retirement Work	Civil Servent and former Governor of the Punjab former National Accountability Bureau

Lieutenant General (retd) Mohammed Attique Rahman MC (24 June 1918 - 1 June 1996) was a distinguished general officer in the Pakistan Army, a noted military historian, as well as a senior government official. He was the martial law administrator of West Pakistan in the General Yahya Khan's military regime^[1] as well as the last Governor of West Pakistan and implemented the dissolution of the One Unit scheme. After that, he became the Governor of Punjab province.

Early life

He was schooled at St Paul's in London and the joined the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military Academy Dhera Dun. where he was awarded the Sword of Honor and the silver spurs as the best all-round Gentleman Cadet.

Personality

The general was a larger than life figure, a true gentleman, known for his excellent sense of humor, boisterous laughter and love for sports (especially tennis which he played almost every afternoon at the Services Club Lahore). His fun-loving personality coupled with a sharp wit and intelligence earned him almost unparalleled respect and love whether it be a colleague or a child.

Military Service

Born on June 24, 1918, he was educated at St Paul's School, London and at the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun, where he was awarded the Sword of Honour. Commissioned on February 1, 1940, he joined the 4/12th Frontier Force Regiment (The fabled "Charwanja") and was posted to Thall, Kurram Agency (Ahmedzai Operations) and 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 (Later on Field Marshal)SAM Maneckshaw - this was a deep and special friendship that lasted a lifetime. Attiqur Rahman saw action at Moulmein on the Salween River, at the Sittang River, at the Siege of Imphal and was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous bravery in the face of the enemy. He was sent back to India and put through the Command and Staff College at Quetta and just before the war's end returned to Burma as DDA/QMG 33 Brigade, with 7 Division at Waw. Come to the end of the war, he was posted to the Indian Military Academy as an Instructor (GSO-2).

In 1947, with the birth of Pakistan (Army number PA 103) he was sent as Chief Instructor to the newly formed Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul. After that he was given command of his own regiment, the 4 FFR, until in 1950 he was sent to the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, USA. He returned to Pakistan in 1951 to command 101 Brigade. Back to Quetta in 1952 to do a couple of 'old boy' courses at the staff College, after which he stayed on as Deputy Commandant. 1956 saw him commanding 53 Brigade in Comilla (East Pakistan) and later that year he was posted to GHQ first as DMO and then as VCGS.

In 1959, he was given command of 15th Infantry Division, Sialkot, then of 7th Infantry Division, Peshawar. He did the Imperial Defence College (London) course in 1962, and came back to GHQ in 1963 as Adjutant General. During the 1965 war, he was posted to HQ-1 Corps, and later given command of 12th Infantry Division, Murree.

In 1966, promoted to Lieutenant General, he commanded his first Corps, IV Corps then headquartered at Multan (later it was moved to Lahore). When Yahya's Martial Law was instituted on 25 March, 1969, Attiq was appointed Martial Law Administrator, Zone A (West Pakistan) due to his position as Commander IV Corps. Later in August 1969, Attiq was moved to I Corps at Mangla, whereas Tikka Khan took charge of IV Corps and became the MLA of West Pakistan. Attiq stayed as the commander I Corps from August 1969 till February 1970. He was then replaced by Lt Gen Irshad Ahmed Khan.

From there, Attiq was appointed as the Governor of West Pakistan in February 1970 replacing Air Marshal Nur Khan. He stayed as governor till the break-up of One Unit in 1971, and then took over as Governor of Punjab. He retired from the army and from the governorship in December 1971.

Governor

He was appointed Governor of West Pakistan and after the dissolution of One Unit, Governor of Punjab.

Military analyst

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, which he stayed till 1985.

His contribution

Attiqur Rahman, Mohammed (1973). "Leadership: Junior Commanders"

Attiqur Rahman, Mohammed (1973). "Leadership: Senior Commanders"

Attiqur Rahman, Mohammed (1976). "Our Defence Cause: An analysis of Pakistan's past and future military role".

Attiqur Rahman, Mohammed (1978). "Reflections on Infantry"

Attiqur Rahman, Mohammed (1980). "Wardens of the Marches: a history of the Piffers 1947 - 1971"

Attiqur Rahman, Mohammed (1981). "Reflections on the principles of surprise and deception"

Attiqur Rahman, Mohammed (2005). "Back to the pavilion". Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-597861-7

References

1. ^ Pakistan : Martial Law "Who's Who" The American Papers - Secret and Confidential India.Pakistan.Bangladesh Documents 1965-1973, March 26, 1969

External links

• Herr Generalfeldmarschall Attiq von Rachmann by Ardeshir Cowasjee (Dawn)
• An officer and a gentleman by Ikram Sehgal (The News)

Political offices
Preceded by Office established	Martial Law Administrator, Zone A (West Pakistan) 1969	Succeeded by Tikka Khan
Preceded by Yusuf Haroon	Governor of West Pakistan 1969	Succeeded by Tikka Khan
Preceded by Nur Khan	Governor of West Pakistan 1970	Succeeded by Office dissolved
Preceded by Part of West Pakistan	Governor of Punjab 1970 – 1971	Succeeded by Ghulam Mustafa Khar

Persondata
Name	Rahman, Attiqur
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1918-06-24
Place of birth	Rawalpindi District, British Raj
Date of death	1996-06-01
Place of death	Lahore Punjab