Mushtaq Ahmed Baig
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General Mushtaq Ahmad Baig (Born: 1951 - 25 February 2008), HI(M)
, was the Surgeon General of the Pakistani Army
who was killed in a suicide-bomb attack
on 25 February 2008. An ophthalmologist by profession, Baig is the most senior Army officer to be targeted and killed since Pakistan
's involvement in the War on Terror
and the North West-Pakistan Conflict
.
village, Chakwal District
, in 1951 to a middle class
family. There, he attended high school. Baig later moved to Lahore
. He was a graduate of King Edward Medical University. Baig gained his military commission in 1976.GraduatedBachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from KEMC on Sept.26th 1974. He was inducted into the Army Medical Corps. Baig completed his Master of Surgery
degree and received a Doctorate of Ophthalmology from the Army Medical College.
in 2003, he was made commandant of Army Medical College Rawalpindi. Baig is credited for implementing revolutionary changes in the Medical services in the Pakistani Armed Forces. He was the leader in making improvements in the medical services in the Air Force
and the Navy
as well. In 2006, Baig was awarded the second-highest military award, the Hilal-i-Imtiaz
–Military. That same year, he was promoted to Lieutenant General
.In 2007, he was made the Surgeon-General of the Pakistani Army, and was promoted to Colonel Commandant of the Army Medical Corps.
Following the attack, police and military authorities rushed to the site of the incident. An emergency was declared in the city of Rawalpindi
, and civilian and military hospitals were put on high-alert.
Parvez Musharraf and care-taker Prime Minister
Muhammad Mian Soomro
strongly condemned the attack. The President and the Prime Minister said such heinous acts of violence cannot deter the government from its resolve in continuing its fight against terrorism. President Musharraf spoke highly of Baig, and described him as an exceptional officer of high caliber who showed remarkable commitment to serving humanity.
Hilal-i-Imtiaz
The Hilal-i-Imtiaz, English: Crescent of Excellence, Urdu: هلال ا متيا ز , is the second highest civilian award and honor given to both civilians and military officers of the State of Pakistan|Pakistan armed forces by the Government of Pakistan...
, was the Surgeon General of the Pakistani 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...
who was killed in a suicide-bomb attack
Suicide attack
A suicide attack is a type of attack in which the attacker expects or intends to die in the process.- Historical :...
on 25 February 2008. An ophthalmologist by profession, Baig is the most senior Army officer to be targeted and killed since 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...
's involvement in the War on Terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
and the North West-Pakistan Conflict
War in North-West Pakistan
The War in North-West Pakistan is an armed conflict between the Pakistan Armed Forces and armed religious groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan , Lashkar-e-Islam, TSNM, Arab and Central Asian militants including Al-Qaeda, regional armed movements and elements of organized crime.The armed...
.
Early life
Baig was born in Lehr SultanpurLehr Sultanpur
Lehr Sultanpur is a village and union council, an administrative subdivision, of Chakwal District in the Punjab Province of Pakistan, it is part of Choa Saidanshah.-References:MAIN VILLAGES ARE VahLICH MOHAMMAD MUNIR IS UNION COUNCIL NAZIM...
village, Chakwal District
Chakwal District
Chakwal is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Chakwal district was created in 1985; until the year 2000 when divisions were abolished, it was part of Rawalpindi Division.-Administration:...
, in 1951 to a middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
family. There, he attended high school. Baig later moved to Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
. He was a graduate of King Edward Medical University. Baig gained his military commission in 1976.GraduatedBachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree from KEMC on Sept.26th 1974. He was inducted into the Army Medical Corps. Baig completed his Master of Surgery
Master of Surgery
The Master of Surgery is an advanced qualification in surgery. It is most commonly abbreviated Ch.M. or M.S., as well as M.Ch. and M.Chir. from its Latin name, Magister Chirurgiae or the English form of Master of Surgery....
degree and received a Doctorate of Ophthalmology from the Army Medical College.
Army career
While in the army, Baig was progressively elevated in rank while holding a variety of assignments. Having being promoted to Major General2 star rank
An officer of two-star rank is a senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-7. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members...
in 2003, he was made commandant of Army Medical College Rawalpindi. Baig is credited for implementing revolutionary changes in the Medical services in the Pakistani Armed Forces. He was the leader in making improvements in the medical services in the Air Force
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...
and the 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...
as well. In 2006, Baig was awarded the second-highest military award, the Hilal-i-Imtiaz
Hilal-i-Imtiaz
The Hilal-i-Imtiaz, English: Crescent of Excellence, Urdu: هلال ا متيا ز , is the second highest civilian award and honor given to both civilians and military officers of the State of Pakistan|Pakistan armed forces by the Government of Pakistan...
–Military. That same year, he was promoted to Lieutenant General
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...
.In 2007, he was made the Surgeon-General of the Pakistani Army, and was promoted to Colonel Commandant of the Army Medical Corps.
Assassination
On Monday, 25 February 2008, General Baig was on his way home when a teenage suicide bomber targeted his vehicle. The attack resulted in his death as well those of 8 nearby civilians, with another dozen injured. The suicide bomber struck when Baig's car was stopped at a traffic light.Following the attack, police and military authorities rushed to the site of the incident. An emergency was declared in the city of Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi , locally known as Pindi, is a city in the Pothohar region of Pakistan near Pakistan's capital city of Islamabad, in the province of Punjab. Rawalpindi is the fourth largest city in Pakistan after Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad...
, and civilian and military hospitals were put on high-alert.
Aftermath
PresidentPresident of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
Parvez Musharraf and care-taker 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...
Muhammad Mian Soomro
Muhammad Mian Soomro
Muhammad Mian Soomro is a Pakistani politician who has been the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan since 2003. Soomro comes from a renowned political family of Sindh that has been active in public life since 1923...
strongly condemned the attack. The President and the Prime Minister said such heinous acts of violence cannot deter the government from its resolve in continuing its fight against terrorism. President Musharraf spoke highly of Baig, and described him as an exceptional officer of high caliber who showed remarkable commitment to serving humanity.
External links
- Pakistan army's top medic killed
- Wikinews on Lieutenant-General Mushtaq Ahmad Baig