"HATS OFF TO PAF! A FITTING TRIBUTE
TO THE LEADERSHIP AND PERSONNEL OF PAF
BY GENERAL ZIA-UL-HAQ
Air Chief Marshal Shamim and his wife had always
been true soldiers, not mixing politics with service.
They did not intimately know any top leaders of Army,
Air Force, Navy or any politicians, since they did not
fraternize.
The year following the coup, in 1978, he was
promoted as Chief of Air Staff, at age 47. He had
commanded three bases and served as Air Commander
of Operations, and had been in two wars, besides other training.
He accepted with apprehension because of the military
rule.
Gen Zia sensed this and he cleared to him that he
would have nothing to do with the Martial Law or the
inner circle decision makers.
General Zia said his duty was to Air Force and would
not be required to get involved in any other aspect.
In mandatory military meetings, if he did not like
some proposal, he put forward his point of view;
General Zia did not mind, he patiently
listened to all but did what he analysed was correct.
The media chronicles of the outstanding work he and
his wife were doing did not endear well to some in
high places and some members started circulating false
rumours against him to forever tarnish his image.
By passed and retired officers, jumped at the opportunity
to add fuel to this vicious blame game.
