Tajammul Hussain Malik
Encyclopedia
Major General
Tajammul Hussain Malik (born: June 13, 1924) is a senior and former 2-star rank general officer in the Pakistan army
and the former General Officer Commanding of the 23rd Division of Pakistan Army, retiring with the rank of Major-General. He was the commanding officer of Pakistani forces at the Battle of Hilli
during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971
, and headed a failed coup attempt against the regime of Zia-ul-Haq in 1980 which resulted in a court-martial held by Judge Advocate General Branch
of Pakistan Defence Forces headed by General
Zia-ul-Haq.
tribe, was born on June 13, 1924 in the Chakwal District
in the Punjab province
and became a career officer in the British Indian Army
, later joining the army of the new state of Pakistan in 1947. He had participated in Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
and the 1965 War
. In 1971, he promoted as Brigadier-General and was appointed commanding officer of the 205 Infantry Brigade of the Pakistan Army in 1971, deployed at Hilli in East Pakistan
(now Bangladesh
). Malik's unit continued fighting even after Pakistani forces formally surrendered to Indian forces in Dhaka
. He was the only red tape Pakistani officer who did not surrender and after his subsequent capture, Malik and his unit became prisoners of war for over a year.
of the Judge Advocate General Branch
headed by army chief General Zia-ul-Haq over accusations of attempting to overthrow the government of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. In 1980, Malik organised a coup attempt against the military regime of Zia-ul-Haq, with other army officers, including his son Naved and his nephew. The plan was to assassinate Zia during the Pakistan Day parade on March 23, 1980. However, the plot was exposed and Malik, his son and the conspirators were arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Tajammul Hussain Malik (born: June 13, 1924) is a senior and former 2-star rank general officer 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 the former General Officer Commanding of the 23rd Division of Pakistan Army, retiring with the rank of Major-General. He was the commanding officer of Pakistani forces at the Battle of Hilli
Battle of Hilli
The Battle of Hilli or the Battle of Bogra was a major battle fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 and Bangladesh Liberation War. It is generally regarded as the most pitched battle that took place in East Pakistan, now Bangladesh...
during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971
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...
, and headed a failed coup attempt against the regime of Zia-ul-Haq in 1980 which resulted in a court-martial held by Judge Advocate General Branch
Judge Advocate General Branch
The Judge Advocate General Branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces is composed of Pakistan's Military senior officers, lawyers and judges who provide legal services to the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines at all levels of command...
of Pakistan Defence Forces headed by General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Zia-ul-Haq.
Biography
Tajammul Hussain Malik, from the AwanAwan (Pakistan)
Awan , is a South Asian Zamindar tribe, putatively of Arab origin, living predominantly in northern, central, and western parts of Punjab, Pakistan...
tribe, was born on June 13, 1924 in the 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 the Punjab province
Punjab (British India)
Punjab was a province of British India, it was one of the last areas of the Indian subcontinent to fall under British rule. With the end of British rule in 1947 the province was split between West Punjab, which went to Pakistan, and East Punjab, which went to India...
and became a career officer in the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
, later joining the army of the new state of Pakistan in 1947. He had participated in Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
The India-Pakistan War of 1947-48, sometimes known as the First Kashmir War, was fought between India and Pakistan over the princely state of Kashmir and Jammu from 1947 to 1948. It was the first of four wars fought between the two newly independent nations...
and the 1965 War
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...
. In 1971, he promoted as Brigadier-General and was appointed commanding officer of the 205 Infantry Brigade of the Pakistan Army in 1971, deployed at Hilli in 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...
(now Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
). Malik's unit continued fighting even after Pakistani forces formally surrendered to Indian forces in Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
. He was the only red tape Pakistani officer who did not surrender and after his subsequent capture, Malik and his unit became prisoners of war for over a year.
Coup attempt
After his release and repatriation to Pakistan, Malik was the only brigadier-general out of 32 who had fought the war in East Pakistan to be promoted to major general rank. He held the command of 23 Division in Jehlum as a major general. However, he was retired by a military tribunalJudge Advocate General Branch
The Judge Advocate General Branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces is composed of Pakistan's Military senior officers, lawyers and judges who provide legal services to the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines at all levels of command...
of the Judge Advocate General Branch
Judge Advocate General Branch
The Judge Advocate General Branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces is composed of Pakistan's Military senior officers, lawyers and judges who provide legal services to the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines at all levels of command...
headed by army chief General Zia-ul-Haq over accusations of attempting to overthrow the government of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. In 1980, Malik organised a coup attempt against the military regime of Zia-ul-Haq, with other army officers, including his son Naved and his nephew. The plan was to assassinate Zia during the Pakistan Day parade on March 23, 1980. However, the plot was exposed and Malik, his son and the conspirators were arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment.