AIR CHIEF MARSHAL( RETIRED) HAKIMULLAH LAID TO REST WITH FULL MILITARY HONOURS
Air Chief Marshal( Retired) Hakimullah passed away at the age of 88 at PAF Hospital, Islamabad on Friday after a prolonged illness. The Former Air Chief was laid to rest at his native vill, Sheikh Kali in Charsadda with full military honours. A dashingly turned out contingent of Pakistan Air Force presented gun salutation at his grave. After the burial, flowery wreaths were placed at the grave of the deceased on behalf of President of Pakistan, Prime Minister, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of the Air Staff and other dignitaries. High ranking civil and military officers attended the last prayers of the departed and conveyed their condolences to the bereft family. Air Chief Marshal( Retired) Hakimullah was born on 15 October, 1935 in Charsadda disrict of Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa. He completed his training at the also Royal PAF College Risalpur and was commissioned in the GD( P) branch of Pakistan Air Force on 11 January, 1957. He bettered as a fighter airman, demonstrating exceptional chops and enthusiasm in inhibiting adversary points during both the 1965 and 1971 wars. He played a pivotal part in engagements, forcing an adversary Gnat airman to force- land in Pakistani home and leading successful operations against India showcasing his courage and leadership capacities. During his outstanding career he commanded a Fighter Squadron, Flying Wing and an functional Air Base of Pakistan Air Force. As an Air Officer he was appointed as Assistant Chief of the Air Staff( Flight Safety), Senior Air Staff Officer at Air Defence Command and Assistant Chief of the Air Staff( Operations). latterly, he was appointed as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff( Operations) and as Deputy Chief of the Air Staff( Administration), before taking over the command of Pakistan Air Force in March 1988 from which he retired on 09 March, 1991. In recognition of his unmatched frippery and courage he was awarded the war decorations of Sitara-e-Jurat and Tamgha-e-Basalat. He was also a philanthropist of the coveted Nishan-e-Imtiaz( Military) and Hilal-e-Imtiaz( Military). In his communication, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force said that the services rendered by Air Chief Marshal( Retired) Hakimullah for Pakistan Air Force would always be flashed back . He also wished eternal peace to the departed soul and expressed the stopgap that the bereft family would be suitable to bear the loss with courage and fiber.
Editor: Raja Kamran