Pioneering air chief

In a single lifetime our former air chief Asghar Khan played at least half a dozen major roles and excelled in most of them. As an ace fighter pilot, he was a pioneering figure of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in every sense. By his mid-30s he was already appointed commander in chief of the air force which in itself set two hitherto unsurpassed records: Asghar Khan remains the country’s youngest air chief and the first native one. During his more than eight-year stint on the job, Asghar Khan oversaw a period of modernisation at the PAF and transformed it into a well-equipped and trained force. His leadership and integrity made him stand out like a Colossus and everybody else seemed to be overshadowed or overawed — for very good reason.

As an activist, he lent his widely respected voice for the cause of democracy, human rights and peace. As a politican, neither he nor his Tehreek-e-Istiqlal party enjoyed much popularity or success. But such is life. Not always fair or discerning even to those who adhere to the highest ideals such as those espoused by Asghar Khan. He continued to be the voice of national conscience, time and time again reminding political groupings and the civilian administrations about the need for reform and cleansing society of scourges like corruption. He led by example, often spearheading campaigns and movements intended to bring about positive change. As an administrator, he took the national air carrier to new heights. Under him, PIA posted its highest net profit and the lowest accident rate in the world. No wonder then the time he spent at the helm of affairs is remembered as the golden age of the airline when it was counted among the world’s best. Ultimately, it is difficult to pigeon-hole him in one role or the other, because Asghar Khan was so much more. His death robs us of a noble and crusading soul. 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2018.

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