Fazle Haq
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Fazle Haq was a 3-star
rank general in the Pakistan Army
, and former Martial Law Administrator of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan
. He was the "Corps-Commander" of the XI Corps
, and commanded all the Pakistan Army assets assigned in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province. He commanded the Combatant brigades, and supervised the clandestine CIA-ISI network
during the Soviet war in Afghanistan
. He was one of the leading generals who led the Pakistan Combatant Forces during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. As Military Administrator, he had sat up the rogue network of training of the Afghan mujahideen. Under his command, the elements of Pakistan's administrative XI Corps took participation in numerous operations against the Soviet Union.
He served as a Chief Military Administrator (Governor) throughout the military dictatorial rule of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
from 1978 till 1985 and also served as the caretaker Chief Minister of the province in the later half of 1988.
, then Major Fazle Haq was part of the Guides Cavalry in the 6th Armoured Division
, when the regiment launched a two squadron attack at Phillaurah on 11 September. The attack was targeted against the Indian 1st Armoured Division, and as a result both sides faced heavy casualties. This was presumed a Pakistani victory, as the fighting did not resume until 13 September, as the enemy was more cautious. However, it was a Pyrrhic victory.
As a Lieutenant-Colonel, Fazle Haq commanded his own regiment, the Guides Cavalry during 1968 and 1969. Then by 1975, as a Major General, he took over the 6th Armoured Division stationed at Kharian. Now promoted to Lt Gen, Haq was the commander of XI Corps
at Peshawar from January 1978 to March 1980. By this time, General Zia-ul-Haq had imposed a martial law in the country, and Fazle Haq was concurrently appointed the Governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. After retirement from the army in 1980, he stayed on as the governor, finally relinquishing the charge in December 1985 when the martial law was lifted in the country. During his time as Governor and Corp commander he was considered one of President Zia-ul Haq's closest confidantes and a key architect of the Afghan mujahidin groups.He was actively involved with Afghan mujahidin groups including the Haqqani group and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar till the end of the Soviet-Afghan war and often met with High ranking CIA and government officials including Attorney General of the United States William F. Smith and other political key figures for funding and support for the Afghan Freedom. He remains to this day well respected and well known among the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for services rendered during his tenure as Governor.
. He however won election from Kohistan
. In the next elections, he won from Malakand with an overwhelming majority and remained a member of NWFP provincial assembly till his assassination in 1991. He also remained as caretaker Chief Minister of NWFP from May 31, 1988 till December 2, 1988. On 3 October 1993 he was assassinated by an unknown assailant allegedly in retaliation for the death of a senior shia cleric.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Fazle Haq was a 3-star
3 star rank
An officer of three-star rank is a very senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-8. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members...
rank general in the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
, and former Martial Law Administrator of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. He was the "Corps-Commander" of the XI Corps
XI Corps (Pakistan)
The XI Corps is an active administrative corp of Pakistan Army. The XI Corps is the only one corps that is assigned in the North-West Frontier Province . It is currently stationed in Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtaunkhuwa. The Corps was established and quickly raised in 1975 to support administrative...
, and commanded all the Pakistan Army assets assigned in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province. He commanded the Combatant brigades, and supervised the clandestine CIA-ISI network
Operation Cyclone
Operation Cyclone was the code name for the United States Central Intelligence Agency program to arm, train, and finance the Afghan mujahideen during the Soviet war in Afghanistan, 1979 to 1989...
during the Soviet war in Afghanistan
Soviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
. He was one of the leading generals who led the Pakistan Combatant Forces during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. As Military Administrator, he had sat up the rogue network of training of the Afghan mujahideen. Under his command, the elements of Pakistan's administrative XI Corps took participation in numerous operations against the Soviet Union.
He served as a Chief Military Administrator (Governor) throughout the military dictatorial rule of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq , was the 4th Chief Martial Law Administrator and the sixth President of Pakistan from July 1977 to his death in August 1988...
from 1978 till 1985 and also served as the caretaker Chief Minister of the province in the later half of 1988.
Army career
As an army officer, Fazle Haq was commissioned in the Guides Cavalry (Frontier Force) regiment of the Armoured Corps. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. This conflict became known as the Second Kashmir War fought by India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir, the first having been fought in 1947...
, then Major Fazle Haq was part of the Guides Cavalry in the 6th Armoured Division
6th Armoured Division (Pakistan)
The 6th Armoured Division is a Pakistan Army armoured division currently based in Gujranwala, in Punjab Province.-Formation:The division was originally an armoured brigade known as the 100 Independent Armoured Brigade Group. In 1964, it was decided to use the headquarters and other assets of this...
, when the regiment launched a two squadron attack at Phillaurah on 11 September. The attack was targeted against the Indian 1st Armoured Division, and as a result both sides faced heavy casualties. This was presumed a Pakistani victory, as the fighting did not resume until 13 September, as the enemy was more cautious. However, it was a Pyrrhic victory.
As a Lieutenant-Colonel, Fazle Haq commanded his own regiment, the Guides Cavalry during 1968 and 1969. Then by 1975, as a Major General, he took over the 6th Armoured Division stationed at Kharian. Now promoted to Lt Gen, Haq was the commander of XI Corps
XI Corps (Pakistan)
The XI Corps is an active administrative corp of Pakistan Army. The XI Corps is the only one corps that is assigned in the North-West Frontier Province . It is currently stationed in Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtaunkhuwa. The Corps was established and quickly raised in 1975 to support administrative...
at Peshawar from January 1978 to March 1980. By this time, General Zia-ul-Haq had imposed a martial law in the country, and Fazle Haq was concurrently appointed the Governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. After retirement from the army in 1980, he stayed on as the governor, finally relinquishing the charge in December 1985 when the martial law was lifted in the country. During his time as Governor and Corp commander he was considered one of President Zia-ul Haq's closest confidantes and a key architect of the Afghan mujahidin groups.He was actively involved with Afghan mujahidin groups including the Haqqani group and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar till the end of the Soviet-Afghan war and often met with High ranking CIA and government officials including Attorney General of the United States William F. Smith and other political key figures for funding and support for the Afghan Freedom. He remains to this day well respected and well known among the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for services rendered during his tenure as Governor.
Family
Fazle Haq has three sons and one daughter.All are well educated and highly qualified.Despite of his such fame as a great politician and as a 3-star General, none of his family members are associated with Pakistan army or in politics.Political career
He was elected to the Senate in 1988 after completion of his two years bar from election after retiring from the army. He contested and lost the 1988 general elections from his home town of MardanMardan
Mardan , known as The city of hospitality, is a city and headquarters of Mardan District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. It is the de facto headquarters of the Yousafzai tribe and the second most populous city in the province, located at 34°12'0N 72°1'60E and an altitude of in the south...
. He however won election from Kohistan
Kohistan
Kohistan, also transliterated Kuhistan, Kuhiston, Quhistan , may refer to:in Afghanistan*Kohistan, Kapisa Province, Kapisa Province, a town and administrative center of Hesa Awal Kohistan District...
. In the next elections, he won from Malakand with an overwhelming majority and remained a member of NWFP provincial assembly till his assassination in 1991. He also remained as caretaker Chief Minister of NWFP from May 31, 1988 till December 2, 1988. On 3 October 1993 he was assassinated by an unknown assailant allegedly in retaliation for the death of a senior shia cleric.