Remembering Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas

[niaz]

One must remember that trainee Pilot Officers are routinely accompanied by their Instructor. Therefore story of T-33 flagged to stop while already moving appears to be far-fetched. I was in Karachi when it happened. The version I heard of the event is slightly different.

Use of chloroform also appears to be an embellishment and I hadn't come across it before. If you look at tandem seating arrangement of T-33 you would realise that it is virtually impossible to use chloroform to disable the pilot when he is wearing a helmet which Shaheed Rashid Minhas should have been at that time.

This event occurred when an insurgency was going on in East Pakistan but India had not yet entered the fighting. There was indeed a conspiracy as some ( not all) East Pakistani origin pilots stationed in Karachi, who sympathised with Mujibur Rahman, wanted to hijack a few PAF aircrafts to India and use the same to support Mukti Bahini fighters from bases in Indian Bengal.

Apparently Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas was on a routine training exercise with Flt Lt Mutiur Rahman as his instructor in the back seat of T-33. Very soon after take-off Mitu Rahman attempted to wrest control of the aircraft, Rashid Minhas realizing that he was being hijacked put up a struggle and manage to fly the T-33 into the ground.

Shaheed Rashid Minhas was awarded ‘Nishan –e-Haider’ soon afterwards. There were grumblings among quite few quarters even at that time. A PAF Sq. Ldr. who was assigned as instructor to Kuwaiti Air force and was my neighbour in Kuwait; once commented that Nishan-e-Haider is equivalent to Victoria Cross which is given only in cases of extremely bravery during the battle. On other occasions a George Cross’ is awarded. In his opinion a ‘Hilal-e-juraat’ should have been sufficient. Since PAF had no Nishan-e Haider, Rashid Minhas award was politically motivated.

In my opinion, Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas did not do it for the sake of a medal, but because he thought it his duty to deny the hijacker satisfaction of success. By this act Rashid Minhas demonstrated his extreme love for Pakistan. He was without doubt a true ‘Hero’; whether you posthumously award him a Sitara or Hilal or Nishan is immaterial.

We must not forget that there are many unsung heroes in all armies and only a lucky few get the recognition. Whether Rashid Minhas deserved Nisha-e-Haider or not, I still think of him as hero of Pakistan and will continue to honour his memory until the day I die.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

A tragedy it was, however.. I think the issue starts with the earlier officers who were tempted by India even before 65. Sadly, the role of religion came in and some of these earlier traitors were generally of the other major Bengali faith.

I still dont know what this meant or inferred?:

"He cried and said that Mukti Bahini outnumbered his staff and he was helpless in saving the MOU personnel. At the end he said something very odd: “Hindu blood still runs in our veins”.

Regardless. If anything.. both Bengalis and Pakistanis should undertake regular pilgrimages to piss on General Niazi;s grave

@Oscar; a little snippet of history for you...... which again has something to with shifting loyalties.
When India took over Junagadh, it was a joint Indian Army and Indian Navy operation. Some forces were to be landed from sea. A certain Lt. Patrick G.Mungavin was tasked to command a HDML and cover the landing at Porbandar and Mangrol. In the operation, he backed out. He was Court-Martialled on charges of Cowardice and Treason subsequently, and the Prosecution led by Cdre. St.Nott asked for Death Sentence. However the latter charge was dropped and Mungavin was dishonorably dismissed from service. He migrated to Pakistan and served with the PN. Maybe you can research his service record in PN, I could gather that he became a Cdr.

 

[Indus Falcon]

@Oscar; a little snippet of history for you...... which again has something to with shifting loyalties.
When India took over Junagadh, it was a joint Indian Army and Indian Navy operation. Some forces were to be landed from sea. A certain Lt. Patrick G.Mungavin was tasked to command a HDML and cover the landing at Porbandar and Mangrol. In the operation, he backed out. He was Court-Martialled on charges of Cowardice and Treason subsequently, and the Prosecution led by Cdre. St.Nott asked for Death Sentence. However the latter charge was dropped and Mungavin was dishonorably dismissed from service. He migrated to Pakistan and served with the PN. Maybe you can research his service record in PN, I could gather that he became a Cdr.

So what does this have to do with this thread?

 

[haviZsultan]

Regardless. If anything.. both Bengalis and Pakistanis should undertake regular pilgrimages to piss on General Niazi;s grave

Here, the bolded part we fully agree. I think we should begin criticizing these people but we link accountability for the army to treason. Yahya Khan, Tikka Khan and Niazi should have been punished severely for throwing away half the land. ZAB got what was coming to him for his power hunger but the military figures who were also cause of the problem-they escaped the gallows.

This shows we are unwilling to make accountable the military. It is not lack of patriotism that makes me say this rather than the belief that any man is corruptible, including one in the armed forces of the Pakistani nation.

Another thing I really believe is that we should be capable of distinguishing right from wrong. When the Bengali soldiers refused to shoot civilians during the language movement in Bengal it was not lack of patriotism, it was about doing the right thing. I even though I have a wish to be a soldier and if time comes will, I will never follow a blind order. We should be capable of knowing right from wrong. Niazi suppressed the Bengalis along with his others. It is a black mark on our history.

We have come to look at the Bengalis very critically but our reasons for wanting independence from India were very similar to theirs. My wish however is Bengal and Pak become one again.[/QUOTE]

 

[SQ8]

You seem to be having the same issue as me with quotes. I wonder what is up with that.

 

[haviZsultan]

@Oscar, fixed it bro. I agreed with your post.

 

[SQ8]

@Oscar, fixed it bro. I agreed with your post.

There is a lot more to look at during those early years and how the original ML leadership was sidelined. Things turned sour back then.

On the topic however, whilst the idea of the "Nishan-e-Haider" may simply have been a need for propaganda of the hour. There is no doubt that Rashid Minhas did do(or attempt to do) something uniquely heroic for someone at his age and career state.

The express news article posted elsewhere is in bad taste and rather deserves a spate of haranguing comments.
I have sympathy and utter shame for what the PA did to Bengalis, but that should not mean one discredits those that did fight valiantly or lay down their lives for their country.

The author for that article is building up a repute best said in that old adage "Shah se ziada...... "

 

[Capt.Popeye]

I have sympathy and utter shame for what the PA did to Bengalis, but that should not mean one discredits those that did fight valiantly or lay down their lives for their country.
"

@Oscar, just to add a point related specifically to the above. Some Officers of the PA and other services acquitted themselves honorably in what were certainly testing circumstances to their sense of Professional Honor, in that period.
Two names that readily come to mind are Lt.Gen. Sahibzada Yakub Khan and Adm. S.M.Ahsan. I'm sure there were more at all levels, but I'd need to re-look at some records. That being said, it was much harder for junior and mid-level Officers to question Questionable Orders and Policies.

 

[Indus Falcon]

There is a lot more to look at during those early years and how the original ML leadership was sidelined. Things turned sour back then.

On the topic however, whilst the idea of the "Nishan-e-Haider" may simply have been a need for propaganda of the hour. There is no doubt that Rashid Minhas did do(or attempt to do) something uniquely heroic for someone at his age and career state.

The express news article posted elsewhere is in bad taste and rather deserves a spate of haranguing comments.
I have sympathy and utter shame for what the PA did to Bengalis, but that should not mean one discredits those that did fight valiantly or lay down their lives for their country.

The author for that article is building up a repute best said in that old adage "Shah se ziada...... "

I agree on all points, except your statement on the treatment of Bengalis by PA. Can you ignore the atrocities committed by Mukhti Bahini? or IA posing as mukhti bahini, or indian propaganda? Kindly do take these points into consideration, I'm sure you will realize there is more than what meets the eye.

 

[SQ8]

I agree on all points, except your statement on the treatment of Bengalis by PA. Can you ignore the atrocities committed by Mukhti Bahini? or IA posing as mukhti bahini, or indian propaganda? Kindly do take these points into consideration, I'm sure you will realize there is more than what meets the eye.

There is a lot more to it. It was the Mukti who hit first, but then who are we if we did the same to people whom we considered our own? Especially those that did not hold bad ideals against us in the first place.
See the issue with us Pakistanis in general is that we are almost INSTANT to point out the faults of others in order to justify something. But when it comes to our own we have various excuses.
Today we face massive extremism and people within our own state(much like with Bangladesh but at a different analogical level) who will prosecute you and me based on what we believe in or whether our ankles are covered or not or kill us over other issues. We say its the Saudis responsible or RAW or MOSSAD.. but the fact remains. These were people within our lands, next to us or not. Yet, we let it get to a point with them that it led to such severe actions.

It does not matter if the neighbours auntie's kid cheated on the test which prompted me to cheat, what matters is that I cheated. It is my shame and none of his actions justify mine.
And regardless of what RAW or Mukti did.. they are NOT my Army.. they are NOT my military and my brothers.. and they are NOT a source of shame for me if they did something deplorable.

The same way, I would be as angry and upset if I got into an accident with some random stranger at the road and ended up wronging them, as I might be if it were a relative. Its human nature to be more upset about people who were/are closer to us.

Today, if the entire Indian Military (@Capt.Popeye hope you get the reason for the example) goes ahead and hires child lobar to carry their ammunition and battalions of comfort women to bolster their troop morale I would not care. But if we do the same to match them.. I would be horrified.

 

[Indus Falcon]

Here, the bolded part we fully agree. I think we should begin criticizing these people but we link accountability for the army to treason. Yahya Khan, Tikka Khan and Niazi should have been punished severely for throwing away half the land. ZAB got what was coming to him for his power hunger but the military figures who were also cause of the problem-they escaped the gallows.

This shows we are unwilling to make accountable the military. It is not lack of patriotism that makes me say this rather than the belief that any man is corruptible, including one in the armed forces of the Pakistani nation.

Another thing I really believe is that we should be capable of distinguishing right from wrong. When the Bengali soldiers refused to shoot civilians during the language movement in Bengal it was not lack of patriotism, it was about doing the right thing. I even though I have a wish to be a soldier and if time comes will, I will never follow a blind order. We should be capable of knowing right from wrong. Niazi suppressed the Bengalis along with his others. It is a black mark on our history.

We have come to look at the Bengalis very critically but our reasons for wanting independence from India were very similar to theirs. My wish however is Bengal and Pak become one again.

Have you read the Hammoud ur Rehman Commission Report?

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1:

12. In the early stages this method of procurement seems to have been encouraged by senior commanders,
including Lt. Gen Niazi, whose remarks on the very first day of his taking over command from Gen Tikka
Khan have already been quoted by us in an earlier chapter, viz: "what have I been hearing about shortage
of rations? Are not there any cows and goats in this country? This is enemy territory. Get what you want.
This is what we used to do in Burma." (vide Maj Gen Farman Ali's Evidence). Gen Niazi did not, of
course, accept having made any such statement and asserted that "whatever we took we gave a chit so that
civil government should pay for that". This assertion is not supported by other officers. On the contrary,
some officers like Lt. Col. Bukhori, (Witness No. 244) have made a positive statement that even written
orders were received by them emanating from the Eastern Command to live of the land during sweep
operations.

 

[SQ8]

Have you read the Hammoud ur Rehman Commission Report?

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1:

12. In the early stages this method of procurement seems to have been encouraged by senior commanders,
including Lt. Gen Niazi, whose remarks on the very first day of his taking over command from Gen Tikka
Khan have already been quoted by us in an earlier chapter, viz: "what have I been hearing about shortage
of rations? Are not there any cows and goats in this country? This is enemy territory. Get what you want.
This is what we used to do in Burma." (vide Maj Gen Farman Ali's Evidence). Gen Niazi did not, of
course, accept having made any such statement and asserted that "whatever we took we gave a chit so that
civil government should pay for that". This assertion is not supported by other officers. On the contrary,
some officers like Lt. Col. Bukhori, (Witness No. 244) have made a positive statement that even written
orders were received by them emanating from the Eastern Command to live of the land during sweep
operations.

Which is why I will never fully blame the common trooper because at the end most of them were aliens to Bangladesh( a historical fault but one they had to bear) and were essentially "Jeeves" in terms of following orders.

 

[Psychic]

Regardless. If anything.. both Bengalis and Pakistanis should undertake regular pilgrimages to piss on General Niazi;s grave

Niazi was only a field commander who had little role in the debacle of 1971. Whether he was competent or not is a seperate debate.

Yahya and Rahim Khan are the ones who must be held responsible along with power hungry "mob makers" like Bhutto and Mujib.

 

[Indus Falcon]

Niazi was only a field commander who had little role in the debacle of 1971. Whether he was competent or not is a seperate debate.

Yahya and Rahim Khan are the ones who must be held responsible along with power hungry "mob makers" like Bhutto and Mujib.

The first thing one looks for in an officer, is integrity. Sometimes it's by nature, sometimes you have to force yourself. Let me give you an example, when dealing with relatives, don't you get to hear, "dekho maa baap nai kiya tarbiyat key hai!" The same way any officer, civilian or military is an ambassador of his organization. Gen Niazi, from what I have read in the Hummod ur Rehman Commission Report (in particular) was quite a disgrace on his own. His actions were barbaric and uncalled for. He did the exact opposite of what one is supposed to do when fighting a guerrilla war. Alienating the local population, looking down on them, crushing them under the boot, never works. It is always counter-productive. 2nd Century mentality at best!

The second part of your statement, absolutely right!

 

[haviZsultan]

Have you read the Hammoud ur Rehman Commission Report?

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1:

12. In the early stages this method of procurement seems to have been encouraged by senior commanders,
including Lt. Gen Niazi, whose remarks on the very first day of his taking over command from Gen Tikka
Khan have already been quoted by us in an earlier chapter, viz: "what have I been hearing about shortage
of rations? Are not there any cows and goats in this country? This is enemy territory. Get what you want.
This is what we used to do in Burma." (vide Maj Gen Farman Ali's Evidence). Gen Niazi did not, of
course, accept having made any such statement and asserted that "whatever we took we gave a chit so that
civil government should pay for that". This assertion is not supported by other officers. On the contrary,
some officers like Lt. Col. Bukhori, (Witness No. 244) have made a positive statement that even written
orders were received by them emanating from the Eastern Command to live of the land during sweep
operations.

I don't think if we treated Bengalis well. 30% of funds allocated for them when they made up 60% of the population. I don't think accepting our mistakes means not being patriotic.

By giving them what they wanted we could very easily have stopped Bengal from splitting with us just like Nehru could have stopped Pakistan from splitting by giving us self rule for our provinces and our own laws like no cow slaughter ban. Hammoud Ur Rehman was a way of painting things that were ugly for us with a smooth brush.

This is going off topic. We can discuss this some place else. I stand by my views though. Bhutto was an evil man and an autocrat as was Yahya Khan, Niazi and Tikka Khan. Imagine how Jinnah would feel that half the land we had was split up.