Islamabad: Asghar Khan, veteran politician and Pakistan’s first air force chief after independence, has died. He was 96.
Khan was born in Kashmir in northern India in January 1921. He joined India’s Air Force in 1940, then moved to Pakistan. Before him, British officers held top military posts in newly independent Pakistan.
Khan entered politics but his centrist Tahrik-e-Istaqlal party did poorly in the 1970 polls. He emerged as top rival to Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1977 but alleged poll rigging led to a public uprising and subsequent military takeover by General Ziaul Haq.
Khan, known for his humble demeanor, left politics in 2012.
Pakistan’s military and civilian leadership expressed condolences over his death. Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair on Friday expressed his grief over Khan’s demise.
In his condolences message, the Governor prayed for patience to the grieved families to bear the loss.
He praised his services as the first Pakistani Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and for making PAF the best air force in the world.
