An illustrative and long career army and intelligence officer, Kiani came into limelight when he had served as Director-General of the Pakistan Army's Military Intelligence and the commander of the X Corps.[1] Having remembered as an upright and an honest officer during his military career, Kiani had served as a chairman of Federal Public Service Commission during the General Musharraf's regime and had to leave when he and the then Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz developed differences.[2]
In interview given to Dr. Shahid Masood, Kiani had famously called that: "General Niazi was a total and abject failure general who had no control over the situation."[5] Recalling his memories from East, Kiani quoted that "General Niazi totally failed in East Pakistan and his role was very embarrassing which is a matter of regret."[5] While in East, Capt. Kiani was confided with the information from the U.S.Consulate-General in Dhaka that the 7th Fleet had been deployed for Pakistani soldiers' relieve and retreat.[6] However, the 7th Fleet never arrived due to Soviet Union's Pacific Fleet began trailing the American fleet, making it unable to assist in Pakistani defense.[6]
About the surrender of Eastern Command, Kiani said: our soldiers fought diligently and bravely but it was the military leadership that failed in East, not soldiers.[6]
In 1999, Major-General Kiani was the Director-General of the Military Intelligence when the Kargil fiasco took place with the Indian Army.: contents [8] When India mounted counter-attacks on Pakistani forces incursion in the Kargil sector, Major-General Kiani prepared presentation and briefed then-Prime minister Nawaz Sharif, which according to him, had nothing to do with Kargil conflict, on 12 March 1999.[9] During the event from May to July 1999, Major-General Kiani had given presentation to Joint Chiefs Staff Committee every single week on the conflict, and had given presentation to Prime minister only three times on the conflict.[9]
In 2001, General Kiani was removed from his field command assignment and was posted in the Army GHQ in Rawalpindi as an Adjutant-General, which he served until his retirement in 2004.[12] During his farewell meeting with President Musharraf, General Kiani reportedly reminded him to commitment to doff his army uniform during a meeting, he said that the nation needed him.[5] About commenting the Chenagai airstrike in Bajaur Agency, American forces was used in South and North Waziristan and 80 students were killed in a Bajaur Madrassa in an American operation.[5][13]
Chairman Federal Public Service Commission (2004–06)
Kiani developed serious differences with Prime MinisterShaukat Aziz in 2006 over introducing of an ordinance. He had severe confrontation with Prime MinisterAziz and was of the view that the row between two men had become a personalized affair though he had pleaded President Musharraf not to drag the FPSC into a controversy. Kiani was succeeded by Shahid Aziz.[16]
According to Kiani, if this power was given to Cabinet ministers they would have gotten their own way.[16] On 30 March 2006, Kiani resigned from the FPSC's chairmanship after the government reduced his tenure by two-and-a-half years through a presidential ordinance.[17] On 13 May 2006, Kiani filed a petition of his dismissal in the Lahore High Court which was declined, therefore, Kiani filed a lawsuit against PresidentMusharraf in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.[18]
A Supreme Court bench was constituted under Justice F.M. Khokhar and issued legal notices to President Musharraf, and Prime Minister Aziz's government to appear before the trial.[18] However, before the trial took place, President Musharraf made an unsuccessful move suspend and dismissedChief JusticeIftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, and declared a state of emergency in 2007.[5]
Death
Shortly after his interview with Shahid Masood on Geo News, Kiani was admitted to the CMH in Rawalpindi with the complaint of pain in abdomen where military doctors diagnosed an infection in his stomach and suggested an operation.[1] Despite his operation, his condition deteriorated and kept on ICU ward in a state of coma and died on 1 November 2008 at the age of 64.[19]
Later, after burial ceremony, Auditor General of Pakistan Army (AGP) Lieutenant General Javed Zia laid floral wreaths on the grave of the late General Kiani on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kiani and Corps Commander Rawalpindi Lt General Tahir Mehmood.[21][22][23]
In 2008, Kiani called for introspection on the Kargil War by constituting a Commission, and reportedly marked that Nawaz Sharif did not know anything about the Kargil episode nor he was fully briefed on the events. He supported holding of a probe into the Kargil fiasco, adding factors behind the scene, about which people do not know, would also come into the limelight.[6]
In an interview, Masood asked what was General Musharraf's plan, General Kiani said he had briefed Nawaz Sharif and told him that it was a very sensitive issue and he could not unveil all the details to him. He was only apprised of the ongoing situation. Nawaz time and again asked about the truth from senior officials including Sartaj Aziz who was the foreign minister. He also tried to persuade the Chief of Army Staff. General Majid spoke in detail on the issue. General Mahmood was the corps commander then.[24]
Kiani said "Our Jawans (soldiers) bravely fought the Kargil War. I think they revived the memories of the 1965 war. Our officers fought more fiercely than in the 1965 War and repulsed enemy attacks time and again. Despite the fact that supplies were disrupted due to extreme cold, the Jawans continued the war". He repeated that arguments will come up when there will be a probe.[25]
He termed Nawaz's travel to the United States a bid to save the prestige of the Pakistan Army. He said in the meeting of 17 May, Nawaz gave a green signal to the operation. He assured conditional support to General Musharraf that the government would back the operation when he successfully moved forward. If unfortunately the same failed, he would not be in a position to support General Musharraf's game plan. When the army was caught in an awkward situation, he again travelled to the United States to save the symbol of the country, the Pakistan Army.[24]
Criticism and legacy
After his revelation, Kiani was widely criticised by the Major General (retired) Rashid Qureshi, the spokesperson of Pervez Musharraf.[26]Rashid Qureshi termed the charges against Musharraf as "foolish and rubbish". Major-General Qureshi had also said that General Kiani had behaved like "an angry and perturbed child" who was talking senselessly about all the favours bestowed on him.[26] Qureshi leveled charges on him on ethicality and maintained that: "He showed sham loyalty and got promotions and lucrative appointments after retirement. On showing poor performance former Prime minister Aziz sacked him. If he was an upright person, he should have rejected appointment after retirement. Indeed, he was trying to benefit some political elements. During service he did not utter a single word against the policies of Musharraf", the Qureshi concluded."[26]
General Kiani is remembered in Pakistan's defence circles as a brave soldier of the Pakistan Army. Having remembered as upright, strict and an honest intelligence officer of the army, he played an active role in the ex-servicemen society's struggle for separation of the offices of the President and the army chief.[12]
Kiani had faced the threats of court-martial in 2007 for raising voice on many matters that have been tabooed in Pakistan for many years. He asked for an inquiry into Kargil operations, which he called a debacle.[1] He also demanded inquiry into the assault on Red Mosque (Lal Masjid) and the girls' seminary (Jamia Hafsa) of Islamabad and claimed that white phosphorus bombs were used in the assault. He also called for the trial of General Pervez Musharraf for repeatedly violating the constitution.[27]
