Asghar Khan (b. 1921) is a Pakistani politician. At the age of 36 he served as the youngest head of the Pakistan Air Force (P.A.F). Later on he was appointed as the head of the National flag carrier PIA (Pakistan International Airlines). He is considered an honest but failed politician by most people, a man who failed to translate his war hero and clean image into electoral success and a person who lacked the ability to make political compromises at crucial moments. His long career in the Airforce, running PIA and in politics spanned many of the key moments in Pakistan's history. He is also the author of half a dozen books. 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Pakistan International Airlines (also known as PIA), is the national flag carrier of Pakistan with a network of both passenger and cargo operation around the world. ...

Early Political Career

Asghar Khan entered politics in 1968 after resigning from his post, when the movement against Ayub Khan started.

Asghar Khan made a fifteen day tour of Punjab and NWFP and an eleven day tour of East Pakistan and attended the round table conference convened by Ayub Khan to agree on the terms of transfer of power. On 13 March 1969, he announced the formation of a new political party, the Justice Party. In June 1969, Asghar Khan merged his party with others to form the Pakistan Democratic Front in a decision he was soon to regret. Out manouvered by Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, Asghar Khan ended up being ousted from his own party.

Disillusioned with politics he suddenly withdrew from politics in December 1969, but a little later he formed the Tehrik-i-Istiqlal and took part in the 1970 general elections, he suffered a shock defeat to PPP unknown Khurshid Hasan Meer and his party was routed.

Political Career (1972-1978)

During Bhutto's rule from 1971 to 1977, Asghar Khan played a major role in opposition to Zulfiqar Bhutto, there was a deep dislike between the two men. It was during this period he and his party faced frequent attacks by PPP supporters and from the brutal paramilitary Federal Security Force. During the 1977 elections, Asghar Khan allied his party with the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) against the People's Party. Contesting two seats one from Karachi and the other from Abbotabad, despite the PPP's sweep in the rest of the country Asghar Khan was elected by a huge margin from Karachi, defeating PPP candidate Kamaluddin Azfar, but suffered a defeat from the other seat. The PNA rejected the election results as rigged and launched a Nationwide agitation against the results. It was during this time that Asghar Khan wrote a much criticised letter to the chiefs of staff and the officers of the defence forces, asking them to renounce their support for the "illegal (Z A Bhutto's) regime" and asked to "differentiate between a 'lawful' and an 'unlawful' command...and save Pakistan." This letter is considered by many democrats and political writers as instrumental in encouraging the advent of the Zia regime. After the overthrow of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's government by the Army in the summer of 1978 Asghar Khan was offered a cabinet post by Zia Ul Haq, Asghar Khan refused to join the cabinet and also withdrew from the PNA after a growing split between the various parties.

Political Career (1978-1999)

Asghar Khan joined the newly formed Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) in 1983 and was detained by the government. In 1986, Asghar Khan left the MRD, as a result of which many of the Tehrik's members resigned in protest. The Air Marshal boycotted the 1985 non-party elections but took part in the 1988 elections where he was again defeated. Opposing the government of Nawaz Sharif, Asghar Khan led his party to join the Pakistan Democratic Alliance. Contesting in 1993 from Lahore Asghar Khan once again faced defeat. Briefly retiring from active politics in the late 1990's his party faced another one of it's many splits.

Political Career (1999-)

His son Omar Asghar Khan served as Federal minister in Pervaiz Musharraf's government. After his resignation from the cabinet to contest the 2002 elections he took over Tehrik-e-Istiqlal from his father. He subsequently merged it with assorted other non govermental groups and formed a new party called Qaumi-Jamhoori-Party, an event which caused another split in the party. The party suffered a shock with Omar Asghar's mysterious death prior to the elections. After the elections on the insistence of party workers, Asghar Khan was elected party leader of the NJP. Omar Asghar Khan (July 3, 1953 - June 25, 2002) was a Pakistani social worker, economist and politician. ... General Pervez Musharraf (born August 11, 1943, Delhi, India) became de facto ruler (using the title Chief Executive and assuming extensive power) of [[the office of President of Pakistan (becoming Head of State) on June 20, 2001. ...

Opposition to ISI role in Politics

Besides his role in electoral politics, Asghar Khan is particularly noted for his fierce opposition to the involvement of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency of Pakistan in Pakistani politics. His petition to the Pakistan Supreme Court which listed large sums of money used by the ISI in the creation of the IJI remains pending in the Supreme Court over the last decade.

Bibliography

• Khan, Mohammad Asghar(Lahore, 1983). Generals in Politics. Vikas
• Khan, Mohammad Asghar((January 1, 1979)). The first round, Indo-Pakistan war 1965. Vikas
• Khan, Mohammad Asghar. We have Learnt Nothing from History.Pakistan: Politics and Military Power. Published by Oxford University Press, Karachi
• Khan, Mohammad Asghar(1985). The Pakistan experience: State & religion. Vanguard Press.

External links

A Brief Bio