Attiqur Rahman

Mohammed Attiqur Rahman
14th Governor of Punjab
In office
1 July 1970 – 23 December 1971
President
Preceded byMushtaq Ahmed Gurmani
Succeeded byGhulam Mustafa Khar
Personal details
Born
Mohammad Attiqur Rahman

(1918-06-24)24 June 1918
Rawalpindi, Punjab, British India
Died1 June 1996(1996-06-01) (aged 77)
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Resting placeformer National Accountability Bureau
Parent
Alma mater
AwardsHilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam
Sitara-e-Pakistan
Military Cross
Military service
Allegiance
Branch/service
Years of service1940–1971
Rank Lieutenant General
UnitInfantry (4/12 FF Regiment)
Commands
Battles/wars
Post-Retirement WorkCivil servant and former Governor of the Punjab

Mohammed Attiqur Rahman (Punjabi, Urdu: محمد عتیق الرحمان), MC (24 June 1918 – 1 June 1996), also known by his nickname as General Turk,[1] 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.[2] 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.

Early life

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

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.[3]

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, holding this position until 1985.

Awards and decorations

Hilal-e-Quaid-e-Azam

(HQA)

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

(Pakistan Medal)

1947

Tamgha-e-Jamhuria

(Republic Commemoration Medal)

1956

'Military Cross'[4][5]

(MC)

1939-1945 Star
Burma Star War Medal

1939-1945

India Service Medal

1939–1945

Queen Elizabeth II

Coronation Medal

(1953)

Foreign Decorations

Foreign Awards
 UK 'Military Cross'[4][5] (MC)
1939-1945 Star
Burma Star
War Medal 1939-1945
India Service Medal 1939–1945
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal

Works

  • 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

  1. ^ "Remembering General Turk". Hilal Publications. 13 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ Back to the pavilion LT Gen. Attique Rahman
  4. ^ a b "Page 4570 | Supplement 36730, 3 October 1944 | London Gazette | The Gazette". www.thegazette.co.uk.
  5. ^ a b Recommendation for Award for Mohammad Attiqur Rahman Rank: Temporary Major ... 1944.
Political offices
Preceded by
Office established
Martial Law Administrator, Zone A (West Pakistan)
1969
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of West Pakistan
1969
Succeeded by
Preceded by Governor of West Pakistan
1970
Succeeded by
Office dissolved
Preceded by Governor of Punjab
1970 – 1971
Succeeded by