1. Early life

2. Army career

3. Later life and death

4. References

Muhammad Aslam Shah Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) Sitara-e-Basalat Hilal-e-Juraat was a late Pakistani Lieutenant general who served from 1952 to 1988. He served as the General Officer Commanding of Force Command Northern Areas^[1] and then as the General Officer Commanding of 8th division Sialkot. As his tenure of a Lieutenant General, Aslam Shah remained the Corps Commander of IV Corps (Pakistan) and of I Corps (Pakistan). Aslam Shah enjoyed great proximity with Lt. General Faiz Ali Chishti the ex commander X Corps. It is also said that Aslam Shah played a key role in bringing down the government of then prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as he remained the Chief of Staff (CoS) at X corps acting as a righthand man to General Zia ul Haq and Lt. General Chishti. He also played pivotal role in keeping up the government of the military dictator Zia Ul Haq and was a close aide to him.

Early life

Muhammad Aslam Shah was born in Mianwali District and was the third in seven children. His father, Qureshi Muhammad Sadiq was a local school teacher. His younger brother is Brigadier Iqbal Qureshi.

Army career

The General fought in two wars against India. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant general.

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Aslam Shah was a Major in the Pakistan Army. His Commander deserted. He pushed the Indian forces back at the war front of Chawinda.^[2] For this act of gallantry, he was awarded with Hilal-i-Jur'at.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}}

Aslam Shah remained a military attaché to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He also earned the battle award of Sitara e Harb in the Indo Pak war of 1971. ^[3]

Aslam Shah was the most trusted companion of Lt. General Chishti. He played a vital role in abolishing the government of then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and launching Operation Fairplay. He also enjoyed great proximity with General Zia ul Haq and is said to be his most trusted confidant. Zia made Shah the incharge of Foreign Affairs and the De facto governor of Punjab. This was the moment when Shah played vital role in introducing the Chief Minister and later Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Later life and death

Aslam Shah is said to have a very particular personality. His lack of corruption charges made him stand out in the cabinet of General Zia ul Haq.

Aslam Shah resided in his mansion in Rawalpindi until his death. He refused governorship and diplomacy posts multiple times on the insistence of Prime Ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif. He died at the age of 83 at the Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi after a long fought battle with Liver cirrhosis. He left behind two daughters, one son and seven grandchildren. One of whom is the recipient of Order of the British Empire. He was buried at the Army Graveyard Rawalpindi the following day after a massive funeral attended by a large cross section of people. High-ranking officials including the Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, Commander X Corps Lt. General Khalid Nawaz, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and representatives of the incumbent government were present there to mourn his death.^[4]

References

• 1249 in art
• 1249 in England
• 1249 Rutherfordia
• 124BC
• 1,2,4-Benzenetriol
• 1-24 glider
• 1-24 sailplane
• 124 Squadron (Israel)
• 124th
• 124th Attack Squadron
• 124th Baluchistan Infantry
• 124th Delaware General Assembly
• 124th (disambiguation)
• 124th Duchess of Connaught's Own Baluchistan
• 124th Duchess of Connaught's Own Baluchistan Infantry
• 124th Fighter Squadron (United States)
• 124th (Governor General's Body Guard) Battalion, CEF
• 124th Illinois Infantry Regiment
• 124th Infantry Regiment (United States)
• 124th Kentucky Derby
• 124th meridian
• 124th meridian east
• 124th meridian west
• 124th Ohio General Assembly
• 124th Ohio Infantry