Mohammad Shariff
Encyclopedia
Admiral
Mohammad Shariff, (Born:1920), (HJ
, NI(M), SJ), is a retired four-star naval officer and a career war veteran. Admiral Mohammad Shariff took over the command of Pakistan Navy on 21 March, 1979, when a three-star vice-admiral, Hasan Hafeez Ahmed
, died in office. Admiral Shariff was the first four-star naval admiral who was appointed for the Chairmanship of Joints Chiefs of Staff Committee
, hence, he became the principal and supreme commandant of the Pakistan Defence Forces. On September 23, 2010, Admiral Shariff launched his first autobiography Admiral's Diary, providing further accounts, causes, and failure of Pakistan Defence Forces's Operation Searchlight
. Before becoming the four-star admiral and chief of naval staff
, Shariff, as rear-admiral, was the principal commander (second-in-command
) of East-Pakistan High Military Command (Eastern Naval Command), and commanded the Eastern Naval Command
during the entire war theater.
in 1936 at age of 16 as a sailor in the Communication Branch and witnessed battle actions on the high seas in the Atlantic during World War-II. After the Partition
and Independence of State of Pakistan
, Lieutenant
Shariff opted the Pakistani citizenship, and joined the Pakistan Navy
. In 1953, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
in the navy, and in 1956, he was promoted to Commander
where he was shifted as Staff officer at Karachi Naval Base (COMKAR). In 1961, Shariff was promoted to Captain
, and commanded the PNS Tariq till 1964. In 1965, before the Indo-Pak War of 1965, Shariff was promoted to one-star rank, Commodore
. Shariff, as one-star Commodore
actively participated in Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
, and was one of the key planner of Operation Somnath of 1965. While, he was presented at the meeting to commenced the mission and, was the first one to raise his voice for the operation. Commodore Shariff was put Second-in-Command
of the Operation, while the Pakistan Navy
's Flotilla
was commanded by another one-star naval officer Commodore S.M. Anwar.
In 1969, he was promoted to two-star rank, and as Rear-Admiral, he was given the command of Eastern Naval Command of the Navy. A Naval Commanding officer of Pakistan Navy's Eastern Naval Command, Rear-Admiral Shariff commanded the Pakistan Naval operations in the East-Pakistan. In his autobiography, Shariff concluded, The initial military success
in regaining the law and order situation in East Pakistan in March of 1971 was misunderstood as a complete success. In actuality, the law and order situation deteriorated with time, particularly after September of the same year when the population turned increasingly against the army as well as the government.
A commander of Eastern Naval Command, Rear-Admiral Shariff was the most senior commander, and second in command of Pakistan Defense Forces in East-Pakistan. As the war progressed, the pressure on Pakistan Navy was mounted and heightened by the Indian Navy
. Shariff then launched the Marines and special naval operations near at the shore. A heavy deployment of Pakistan Marines
and Special Service Group Navy
(SSG(N)) were undertaken at Cox's Bazar
and other strategic naval shore. Soon after the deployment of Marines
and SSG(N)
, the bloody battle between Pakistan Navy and Indian Navy was insued, and the SSG(N) units and Marines had beaten assaults after assaults. Overall, the Pakistan Navy performed its mission task well and diligently by providing support to the army till the end. However, while Navy was successful by performing its task, Pakistan Army's Eastern Military Commands were unsuccessful to achieve their objectives. After the securing the East-Pakistan's strategic shores, Shariff gained prominence, and for his actions, he was made Second-in-Command of Pakistan Defence Forces in Eastern-Pakistan led by Lieutenant-General Amir Niazi. As second-in-command, Shariff was then placed in important positions where he was presented in every coordination meeting led by General Niazi.
After the success of East-Pakistan Air Operations
of Indian Air Force
(IAF), Army Aviation
's 4th Army Aggressor Squadron, commanded Lieutenant-Colonel Liaqat Asrar Bukhari immediately held a meeting, which was attended by combined military officers of Pakistan Defence Forces. There, he was informed by Colonel Bukhari that the he had been permitted and ordered by Eastern Command to evacuate all the serviceable aircraft that night to Akyab in Burma, along with the maximum number of friendly East-Pakistani nationals. However, Eastern Air Command's commander Air Commodore
(Brigadier-General) Inamul Haq objected the plan as he felt that on view of total air superiority enjoyed by the IAF that it would not be possible. As the conference was chaired by Lieutenant-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, and in a meeting, Rear-Admiral Shariff strongly urged that Colonel Liaqat Bukhari should be allowed to give it a try, as several helicopters would be prevented from falling into enemy hands. General Niazi agreed with Rear-Admiral Shariff and ordered Colonel Liaqat to launch an evacuation operation immediately..
As Indian Military intervened in East Pakistan, the Eastern Air Command and Eastern Military Command were fell apart, forcing Lieutenant-General A. A. K. Niazi
to surrender the Pakistan Eastern Command Forces to his counterpart Jagjit Singh Arora.
As Indian Armed Forces entered in East-Pakistan, Shariff planned an immediate evacuation operation. He commanded and oversaw the maximum evacuation of Pakistan Naval assets from East Pakistan to Burma in a limited time. However, the night Pakistan Military Command were surrendered, Shariff with small number of military officers were planned to leave as the Pakistan naval vessel, with holding of other officers and civilian, was waiting for their evacuation. As the East-Pakistan fell, all the naval routes were successfully closed by Indian Navy, forcing Shariff to remain in East-Pakistan. Later, he joined General Niazi where he was presented at the time when the Instrument of Surrender
was signed.
After the surrender of East-Pakistan Forces, Shariff was taken as Prisoner of War
(POW) and was taken to adjacent Camp No. 77A, where many of the senior military officials were held. He was released by Indian Government and handed over to Pakistan Government on March 1972. Following his return, he began his active service in the Navy, despite the fact other senior officers were subsequently retired or fired from their services. In 1972, He then testified in the absolute failure of Pakistan Eastern Military Command at the Hamoodur Rahman Commission, a stand-up civilian commission headed by then-Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan
Justice Hamoodur Rahman
.
As Chief of Naval Staff, Shariff also played an important role in the establishment of Pakistan Naval Air Arm
in the Pakistan Navy, after the failure of Pakistan Naval Air defense. At first, with the help of PAF, Pakistan Navy raised its first squadron on March 1976.
, Prime minister
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
appointed him as Chief of Naval Staff
. As vice-admiral, Shariff assumed the command of Pakistan Navy on 23 March 1975. In January 1976, Bhutto later upgraded his rank from three-star vice-admiral Shariff to four-star admiral, hence, made him the first full four-star admiral in the Navy.
He played an integral role in the establishment of Pakistan Naval Air Arm
, and sought to improvised the navy as well. On 15 December 1977, Admiral Shariff established the Naval air station
, PNS Mehran, where PAF
's No. 25 Squadron Night Strike Eagles, an Aggressor squadron
of PAF, Admiral M. Shariff presented the Squadron Colour to the No. 25 Squadron Night Strike Eagles. Admiral Mohammad Shariff commanded Pakistan Navy
from 23 March 1975 t 21 March 1979, and was the first military officer belonging to the Navy Branch to become a Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
(JCSC). In 1978, he was appointed by the Pakistan Military Promotion Regulatory Authority (PMPRA), in the absence of Prime minister
and civil institutions.
After his four-star assignment, Admiral Shariff was the Supreme Commandant of the Pakistan Defense Forces from 1978 to 1980. He is a recipient of Hilal-i-Jurat
, which was awarded to him after the 1971 war
when he commanded all the naval assets in the erstwhile East Pakistan
as a rear admiral during the Bangladesh Liberation War
.
, a civil administrative institution responsible for the recruitment of civil bureaucrats, by General Zia-ul-Haq. After his retirement, he lived a quiet life in Islamabad for more than a decade, and served as President
of Elaf Club of Pakistan, a political and military think tank based in Islamabad. On September 23, 2010, Admiral Shariff wrote and launched his first autobiography "Admiral's Diary", in English. The ceremony was held at the Bahria University
Auditorium. Chief of Naval Staff
Admiral Noman Bashir
was chief guest on the occasion. The book launching was attended by seasoned retired military officer and serving bureaucrats, senior retired and serving officers of the three services, family members and friends of the author, notable literary personalities, press and media.
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Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
Mohammad Shariff, (Born:1920), (HJ
Hilal-i-Jurat
The Hilal-i-Jur'at Various official sources that are highly reputable spell the name of the medal differently, so the Pakistan Army website spelling is being taken as the official spelling...
, NI(M), SJ), is a retired four-star naval officer and a career war veteran. Admiral Mohammad Shariff took over the command of Pakistan Navy on 21 March, 1979, when a three-star vice-admiral, Hasan Hafeez Ahmed
Hasan Hafeez Ahmed
Vice Admiral Hasan Hafeez Ahmed, TQA , was a senior naval officer who served as the first Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy. Vice-Admiral H.H. Ahmed commanded Pakistan Navy from 1972 until his death on 9 March 1975...
, died in office. Admiral Shariff was the first four-star naval admiral who was appointed for the Chairmanship of Joints Chiefs of Staff Committee
Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Pakistan
The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee , is a military administrative body of high-ranking and senior uniformed military leaders and officers in the Pakistan Defense Forces who advises the civilian Government of Pakistan, National Security Council, and Defence Minister on important military matters...
, hence, he became the principal and supreme commandant of the Pakistan Defence Forces. On September 23, 2010, Admiral Shariff launched his first autobiography Admiral's Diary, providing further accounts, causes, and failure of Pakistan Defence Forces's Operation Searchlight
Operation Searchlight
Operation Searchlight was a planned military operation carried out by the Pakistan Army to curb the Bengali nationalist movement in the erstwhile East Pakistan in March 1971. Ordered by the central government in West Pakistan, this was seen as the sequel to "Operation Blitz" which had been...
. Before becoming the four-star admiral and chief of naval staff
Chief of Naval Staff (Pakistan)
The Chief of the Naval Staff, abbreviated as CNS, is the highest ranking officer in the Pakistani Navy unless a 4-star naval officer is appointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The current Chief of the Naval Staff is Admiral Asif Sandila who commands the Navy. The CNS reports...
, Shariff, as rear-admiral, was the principal commander (second-in-command
Second-in-command
The Second-in-Command is the deputy commander of any British Army or Royal Marines unit, from battalion or regiment downwards. He or she is thus the equivalent of an Executive Officer in the United States Army...
) of East-Pakistan High Military Command (Eastern Naval Command), and commanded the Eastern Naval Command
Pakistan Navy
The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...
during the entire war theater.
Naval career
Shariff joined Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in 1936 at age of 16 as a sailor in the Communication Branch and witnessed battle actions on the high seas in the Atlantic during World War-II. After the Partition
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
and Independence of State 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...
, Lieutenant
Lieutenant (naval)
LieutenantThe pronunciation of lieutenant is generally split between or , generally in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries, and or , generally associated with the United States. See lieutenant. is a commissioned officer rank in many nations' navies...
Shariff opted the Pakistani citizenship, and joined the Pakistan Navy
Pakistan Navy
The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...
. In 1953, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in the navy, and in 1956, he was promoted to Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
where he was shifted as Staff officer at Karachi Naval Base (COMKAR). In 1961, Shariff was promoted to Captain
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
, and commanded the PNS Tariq till 1964. In 1965, before the Indo-Pak War of 1965, Shariff was promoted to one-star rank, Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
. Shariff, as one-star Commodore
Commodore (rank)
Commodore is a military rank used in many navies that is superior to a navy captain, but below a rear admiral. Non-English-speaking nations often use the rank of flotilla admiral or counter admiral as an equivalent .It is often regarded as a one-star rank with a NATO code of OF-6, but is not always...
actively participated in Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-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...
, and was one of the key planner of Operation Somnath of 1965. While, he was presented at the meeting to commenced the mission and, was the first one to raise his voice for the operation. Commodore Shariff was put Second-in-Command
Second-in-command
The Second-in-Command is the deputy commander of any British Army or Royal Marines unit, from battalion or regiment downwards. He or she is thus the equivalent of an Executive Officer in the United States Army...
of the Operation, while the Pakistan Navy
Pakistan Navy
The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...
's Flotilla
Flotilla
A flotilla , or naval flotilla, is a formation of small warships that may be part of a larger fleet. A flotilla is usually composed of a homogeneous group of the same class of warship, such as frigates, destroyers, torpedo boats, submarines, gunboats, or minesweepers...
was commanded by another one-star naval officer Commodore S.M. Anwar.
In 1969, he was promoted to two-star rank, and as Rear-Admiral, he was given the command of Eastern Naval Command of the Navy. A Naval Commanding officer of Pakistan Navy's Eastern Naval Command, Rear-Admiral Shariff commanded the Pakistan Naval operations in the East-Pakistan. In his autobiography, Shariff concluded, The initial military success
Operation Searchlight
Operation Searchlight was a planned military operation carried out by the Pakistan Army to curb the Bengali nationalist movement in the erstwhile East Pakistan in March 1971. Ordered by the central government in West Pakistan, this was seen as the sequel to "Operation Blitz" which had been...
in regaining the law and order situation in East Pakistan in March of 1971 was misunderstood as a complete success. In actuality, the law and order situation deteriorated with time, particularly after September of the same year when the population turned increasingly against the army as well as the government.
A commander of Eastern Naval Command, Rear-Admiral Shariff was the most senior commander, and second in command of Pakistan Defense Forces in East-Pakistan. As the war progressed, the pressure on Pakistan Navy was mounted and heightened by the Indian Navy
Indian Navy
The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The Chief of Naval Staff , usually a four-star officer in the rank of Admiral, commands the Navy...
. Shariff then launched the Marines and special naval operations near at the shore. A heavy deployment of Pakistan Marines
Pakistan Marines
The Pakistani Marines , are the Marine Corps and amphibious corps service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The Pakistani Marines are a special military operations service branch of the Pakistani Navy and part of Pakistani Armed Forces, responsible for providing force projection from the sea,...
and Special Service Group Navy
Special Service Group Navy
The Special Service Group Navy, codename SSG, are the Pakistan Navy's elite principal special operations naval force component. Together with the PAF 312th SS Wing, Special Service Group, Pakistan Marines, and Rangers, they form Pakistan Special Operations Command under the joint administrative...
(SSG(N)) were undertaken at Cox's Bazar
Cox's Bazar
Cox's Bazar is a town, a fishing port and district headquarters in Bangladesh. It is known for its wide sandy beach which is the world's longest natural sandy sea beach. It is an unbroken 125 km sandy sea beach with a gentle slope. It is located 150 km south of Chittagong. Cox’s Bazar...
and other strategic naval shore. Soon after the deployment of Marines
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...
and SSG(N)
Special Service Group Navy
The Special Service Group Navy, codename SSG, are the Pakistan Navy's elite principal special operations naval force component. Together with the PAF 312th SS Wing, Special Service Group, Pakistan Marines, and Rangers, they form Pakistan Special Operations Command under the joint administrative...
, the bloody battle between Pakistan Navy and Indian Navy was insued, and the SSG(N) units and Marines had beaten assaults after assaults. Overall, the Pakistan Navy performed its mission task well and diligently by providing support to the army till the end. However, while Navy was successful by performing its task, Pakistan Army's Eastern Military Commands were unsuccessful to achieve their objectives. After the securing the East-Pakistan's strategic shores, Shariff gained prominence, and for his actions, he was made Second-in-Command of Pakistan Defence Forces in Eastern-Pakistan led by Lieutenant-General Amir Niazi. As second-in-command, Shariff was then placed in important positions where he was presented in every coordination meeting led by General Niazi.
After the success of East-Pakistan Air Operations
East Pakistan Air Operations, 1971
East Pakistan Air Operations incorporate the interdiction, air defence, ground support, and logistics missions flown by the Indian Air Force and the Bangladesh Air Force in support of the advancing Mitro Bahini in the eastern theatre of the Indo-Pakistani conflict of 1971...
of Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
(IAF), Army Aviation
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...
's 4th Army Aggressor Squadron, commanded Lieutenant-Colonel Liaqat Asrar Bukhari immediately held a meeting, which was attended by combined military officers of Pakistan Defence Forces. There, he was informed by Colonel Bukhari that the he had been permitted and ordered by Eastern Command to evacuate all the serviceable aircraft that night to Akyab in Burma, along with the maximum number of friendly East-Pakistani nationals. However, Eastern Air Command's commander Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
(Brigadier-General) Inamul Haq objected the plan as he felt that on view of total air superiority enjoyed by the IAF that it would not be possible. As the conference was chaired by Lieutenant-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, and in a meeting, Rear-Admiral Shariff strongly urged that Colonel Liaqat Bukhari should be allowed to give it a try, as several helicopters would be prevented from falling into enemy hands. General Niazi agreed with Rear-Admiral Shariff and ordered Colonel Liaqat to launch an evacuation operation immediately..
As Indian Military intervened in East Pakistan, the Eastern Air Command and Eastern Military Command were fell apart, forcing Lieutenant-General A. A. K. Niazi
A. A. K. Niazi
Lieutenant-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi HJ, MC,; c. 1915 - 2 February 2004), was a former three-star general in the Pakistan Army who was the last unified commander of Pakistan Armed Forces's Eastern Military High Command in East-Pakistan...
to surrender the Pakistan Eastern Command Forces to his counterpart Jagjit Singh Arora.
As Indian Armed Forces entered in East-Pakistan, Shariff planned an immediate evacuation operation. He commanded and oversaw the maximum evacuation of Pakistan Naval assets from East Pakistan to Burma in a limited time. However, the night Pakistan Military Command were surrendered, Shariff with small number of military officers were planned to leave as the Pakistan naval vessel, with holding of other officers and civilian, was waiting for their evacuation. As the East-Pakistan fell, all the naval routes were successfully closed by Indian Navy, forcing Shariff to remain in East-Pakistan. Later, he joined General Niazi where he was presented at the time when the Instrument of Surrender
Instrument of Surrender (1971)
The Instrument of Surrender was signed at Ramna Race Course in Dhaka at one past five in the evening , local time, on December 16, 1971, by Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora, General Officer Commanding in Chief of Eastern Command of the Indian Army and Lieutenant General Amir Abdullah Khan...
was signed.
After the surrender of East-Pakistan Forces, Shariff was taken as Prisoner of War
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
(POW) and was taken to adjacent Camp No. 77A, where many of the senior military officials were held. He was released by Indian Government and handed over to Pakistan Government on March 1972. Following his return, he began his active service in the Navy, despite the fact other senior officers were subsequently retired or fired from their services. In 1972, He then testified in the absolute failure of Pakistan Eastern Military Command at the Hamoodur Rahman Commission, a stand-up civilian commission headed by then-Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan
Supreme Court of Pakistan
The Supreme Court is the apex court in Pakistan's judicial hierarchy, the final arbiter of legal and constitutional disputes. The Supreme Court has a permanent seat in Islamabad. It has number of Branch Registries where cases are heard. It has a number of de jure powers which are outlined in the...
Justice Hamoodur Rahman
Hamoodur Rahman
Chief Justice Hamoodur Rahman, Urdu: حمود الرحمن) was Pakistan-Bengali jurist and academia, a legal educator, who formerly served as the 7th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University as well as Professor of Law and Justice at the Karachi University...
.
As Chief of Naval Staff, Shariff also played an important role in the establishment of Pakistan Naval Air Arm
Pakistan Naval Air Arm
The Pakistan Naval Air Arm is the naval aviation branch of the Pakistan Navy.The Naval Air Arm is tasked to carry out air surveillance, limited aerial warfare, and reconnaissance operations...
in the Pakistan Navy, after the failure of Pakistan Naval Air defense. At first, with the help of PAF, Pakistan Navy raised its first squadron on March 1976.
Staff Appointments
After the death of Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Hasan Hafeez AhmedHasan Hafeez Ahmed
Vice Admiral Hasan Hafeez Ahmed, TQA , was a senior naval officer who served as the first Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy. Vice-Admiral H.H. Ahmed commanded Pakistan Navy from 1972 until his death on 9 March 1975...
, Prime minister
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was 9th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1973 to 1977, and prior to that, 4th President of Pakistan from 1971 to 1973. Bhutto was the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party — the largest and most influential political party in Pakistan— and served as its chairman until his...
appointed him as Chief of Naval Staff
Chief of Naval Staff (Pakistan)
The Chief of the Naval Staff, abbreviated as CNS, is the highest ranking officer in the Pakistani Navy unless a 4-star naval officer is appointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The current Chief of the Naval Staff is Admiral Asif Sandila who commands the Navy. The CNS reports...
. As vice-admiral, Shariff assumed the command of Pakistan Navy on 23 March 1975. In January 1976, Bhutto later upgraded his rank from three-star vice-admiral Shariff to four-star admiral, hence, made him the first full four-star admiral in the Navy.
He played an integral role in the establishment of Pakistan Naval Air Arm
Pakistan Naval Air Arm
The Pakistan Naval Air Arm is the naval aviation branch of the Pakistan Navy.The Naval Air Arm is tasked to carry out air surveillance, limited aerial warfare, and reconnaissance operations...
, and sought to improvised the navy as well. On 15 December 1977, Admiral Shariff established the Naval air station
Naval Air Station
A Naval Air Station is a military airbase, and consists of a permanent land-based operations locations for the military aviation division of the relevant branch of their Navy...
, PNS Mehran, where PAF
Pakistan Air Force
The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...
's No. 25 Squadron Night Strike Eagles, an Aggressor squadron
Aggressor squadron
An aggressor squadron or adversary squadron is a squadron that is trained to act as an opposing force in military wargames. Aggressor squadrons use enemy tactics, techniques, and procedures to give a realistic simulation of air combat...
of PAF, Admiral M. Shariff presented the Squadron Colour to the No. 25 Squadron Night Strike Eagles. Admiral Mohammad Shariff commanded Pakistan Navy
Pakistan Navy
The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...
from 23 March 1975 t 21 March 1979, and was the first military officer belonging to the Navy Branch to become a Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee
Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Pakistan
The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee , is a military administrative body of high-ranking and senior uniformed military leaders and officers in the Pakistan Defense Forces who advises the civilian Government of Pakistan, National Security Council, and Defence Minister on important military matters...
(JCSC). In 1978, he was appointed by the Pakistan Military Promotion Regulatory Authority (PMPRA), in the absence of Prime minister
Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Prime Minister of Pakistan , is the Head of Government of Pakistan who is designated to exercise as the country's Chief Executive. By the Constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan has the parliamentary democratic system of government...
and civil institutions.
After his four-star assignment, Admiral Shariff was the Supreme Commandant of the Pakistan Defense Forces from 1978 to 1980. He is a recipient of Hilal-i-Jurat
Hilal-i-Jurat
The Hilal-i-Jur'at Various official sources that are highly reputable spell the name of the medal differently, so the Pakistan Army website spelling is being taken as the official spelling...
, which was awarded to him after the 1971 war
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
when he commanded all the naval assets in the erstwhile East Pakistan
East Pakistan
East Pakistan was a provincial state of Pakistan established in 14 August 1947. The provincial state existed until its declaration of independence on 26 March 1971 as the independent nation of Bangladesh. Pakistan recognized the new nation on 16 December 1971. East Pakistan was created from Bengal...
as a rear admiral during the Bangladesh Liberation War
Bangladesh Liberation War
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an armed conflict pitting East Pakistan and India against West Pakistan. The war resulted in the secession of East Pakistan, which became the independent nation of Bangladesh....
.
Post-Retirement
After his retirement from Pakistan Defence Forces, he was personally appointed Chairman of the Federal Public Service CommissionFederal Public Service Commission
The Federal Public Service Commission is a Government of Pakistan agency that is responsible appointing civil servants and bureaucrats in Government of Pakistan.- History :...
, a civil administrative institution responsible for the recruitment of civil bureaucrats, by General Zia-ul-Haq. After his retirement, he lived a quiet life in Islamabad for more than a decade, and served as President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of Elaf Club of Pakistan, a political and military think tank based in Islamabad. On September 23, 2010, Admiral Shariff wrote and launched his first autobiography "Admiral's Diary", in English. The ceremony was held at the Bahria University
Bahria University
Bahria University is a multi-campus university with headquarters in Islamabad, Pakistan. BU has two main campuses, one in Islamabad and the other in Karachi, Pakistan...
Auditorium. Chief of Naval Staff
Chief of Naval Staff (Pakistan)
The Chief of the Naval Staff, abbreviated as CNS, is the highest ranking officer in the Pakistani Navy unless a 4-star naval officer is appointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. The current Chief of the Naval Staff is Admiral Asif Sandila who commands the Navy. The CNS reports...
Admiral Noman Bashir
Noman Bashir
Admiral Noman Bashir, Admiral Noman Bashir, Admiral Noman Bashir, (NI(M), TI(MI, SI(M), HI(M), LM) was a 4-star rank Admiral who served as the 18th Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) of the Pakistan Navy, 7 October 2008 when Admiral Afzal Tahir retired from the navy, until 07 October 2011...
was chief guest on the occasion. The book launching was attended by seasoned retired military officer and serving bureaucrats, senior retired and serving officers of the three services, family members and friends of the author, notable literary personalities, press and media.
External links
- Official website of Pakistan Navy
- Admiral Mohammad Shariff 23 March 1975 21 March 1979
- http://pakarmyoptimist.blogspot.com/2010/09/gwadar-port-construction-objective-not.html
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