Majeed Malik

2022-07-10T09:13:24Z

115.186.190.2:

{{Short description|Pakistani military officer, politician (1919-2016)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix = [[Lieutenant general (Pakistan)|Lieutenant general]]
| name = Abdul Majeed Malik
| office = [[Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan|Minister of Kashmir Affairs & Northern Areas]]
| term_start = 11 July 1997
| term_end = 12 September 1999
|primeminister = [[Nawaz Sharif]]
|president = [[Wasim Sajjad]] ({{small|Acting}})<br />[[Muhammad Rafiq Tarar]]
| office1 = [[Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (Pakistan)|Minister of States
& Frontier Regions]]
| term_start1 = 11 July 1997
| term_end1 = 12 September 1999
| office2 = [[Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division)|Minister of Petroleum]]
| term_start2 = 11 August 1990
| term_end2 = 6 November 1990
|primeminister2 = [[Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi]]
|president2 = [[Ghulam Ishaq Khan]]
| office3 = Member of [[National Assembly of Pakistan]]
| term_start3 = 15 February 1997
| term_end3 = 12 October 1999
| constituency3 = [[NA-64 (Chakwal-I)|NA-64]]
| term_start4 = 15 October 1993
| term_end4 = 5 November 1996
| constituency4 = NA-64
| term_start5 = 3 November 1990
| term_end5 = 18 July 1993
| constituency5 = NA-64
| term_start6 = 30 November 1988
| term_end6 = 6 August 1990
| constituency6 = NA-64
| party = [[Islami Jamhoori Ittehad]]
| otherparty = [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)]]
|alma_mater = [[Government Post Graduate College (Chakwal)|Government Post Graduate College]]
|honorific_suffix =
| birth_date = {{Birth year |1919}}
| birth_place = [[Punjab, Pakistan]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|06|3|1919|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Islamabad]], Pakistan<ref name="Dhakku 2016"/>
{{Infobox military person | embed=yes
|allegiance = {{PAK}}<br/>{{UK}}
|branch = {{army|PAK}}<br/>{{flag|British India|23px}}
|branch_label = 
|serviceyears = 1939–1976<ref name="Ali 2015"/>
|serviceyears_label =
|rank = [[File:OF-8 PakistanArmy.svg|10px]] [[Lieutenant general (Pakistan)|Lieutenant general]]<br/>[[Commissioned officer]]
|rank_label =
|servicenumber =
|unit = {{plainlist|
*[[11th Infantry Division (Pakistan)|11th Infantry Division]]
*[[1st Punjab Regiment|Punjab Regiment]]
}}
|commands = {{plainlist|
*[[Special Services Group]]
*[[Structure of the Pakistan Army#Army headquarters and staff|Military Operations]]
}}
|battles = {{plainlist|
* [[World War II]]
* [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
* [[Indo-Pakistan War of 1971]]
}}
|battles_label =
|placeofburial = [[Jand, Chakwal]]
|alma_mater = [[Canadian Army Command and Staff College]]
|awards =
| spouse =
|laterwork =
|module =
}}
}}

'''Abdul Majeed Malik''' (1919 {{endash}} 3 June 2016) was a [[Lieutenant general (Pakistan)|lieutenant general in the Pakistan Army]], [[World War II]] veteran, diplomat and later politician who served as [[Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan|minister of Kashmir Affairs & Northern Areas]] and [[Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (Pakistan)|minister of States
& Frontier Regions]] from 11 July 1997 to 12 September 99. Prior to entering in the political race, he served as a director for military operations at [[General Headquarters (Pakistan Army)|general headquarters]]. Before the [[Partition of India|partition]], he was a commissioned officer in the [[British Indian Army]]. He also drafted [[1958 Pakistani coup d'état|1958 martial law]], the first military coup of Pakistan.

He was born in 1919 in [[Jand, Chakwal]], [[British Raj|British India]] (in modern-day [[Punjab, Pakistan]]). He received his [[secondary education]] from a school at [[Hasola]] in 1935, and later went to Government High School Chakwal (in modern-day [[Government Post Graduate College (Chakwal)|Government Post Graduate College]]).

== Career ==
=== Military ===
Before entering in politics and diplomatic career, he worked in the British Indian Army in 1939 as a [[sepoy]]. He initially served at a clerical job at the [[1st Punjab Regiment|Punjab Regiment]].

In 1943, he was selected as a commissioned officer in the British Indian Army. He was one of the veterans who observed the partition of India. Before the partition, he was also assigned the security duty of [[Mahatma Gandhi]] following the [[Direct Action Day]] peace talks between Gandhi and [[Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy]].<ref name="Dhakku 2016">{{cite web | last=Dhakku | first=Nabeel Anwar | title=Gen Majeed Malik - Chakwal's political wizard | website=DAWN.COM | date=2016-06-05 | url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1262832 | access-date=2021-09-08}}</ref>

After the [[India subcontinent]] was divided into two sovereign states such as India and Pakistan, he entered in the [[Pakistan Army]] and served at various posts, including as an instructor at the [[Pakistan Military Academy]] in 1962. After he qualified entrance examination from the [[Pakistan Command and Staff College|Command and Staff College]], he was sent to [[Canadian Army Command and Staff College]] where he received his military training. Upon his return, he was posted at [[Murree]] and [[Peshawar]]. When the country came under [[1958 Pakistani coup d'état|1958 military coup]], president [[Iskander Mirza]] was forced to submit his resignation from the presidency. Mirza's resignation letter was written by Malik.<ref name="Ali 2015"/> He was later appointed as commander of Special Services Group during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]. He later commanded [[11th Infantry Division (Pakistan)|11th Infantry Division]]. During the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]], he served as director for Military Operations at general headquarters in 1969.<ref name="Dhakku 2016"/>

When he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, he commanded [[XI Corps (Pakistan)|XI Corps]]. When [[Tikka Khan]] retired from the service, [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]] had to appoint Malik as the [[Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan)|Chief of the Army Staff]]. However, Lt General Zia-ul-Haq, who, after Lt General Majeed Malik, was at the seventh step in the race to become CASO, had earned Bhutto's favour. This resulted in Zia's appointment as CASO and being superseded, Lt General Malik resigned from the military service.<ref name="Ali 2015"/>

=== Politics ===
He started his political career in 1988 after electing to the [[National Assembly of Pakistan]]. He represented [[NA-64 (Chakwal-I)|Chakwal constituency]] four times in 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1997. He won the first two terms on the ticket of [[Islami Jamhoori Ittehad]], and the third and the fourth term on the ticket of [[Pakistan Muslim League (N)]].<ref name="c1972 TO 2002">{{Cite web |url=http://www.na.gov.pk/en/content.php?id=71 |title=MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF PAKISTAN 1972 TO 2002 |website=na.gov.pk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420190517/http://www.na.gov.pk/en/content.php?id=71 |archive-date=2021-04-20 }}</ref>

During his political career, he served as [[Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division)|minister of petroleum]] and minister of States & Frontier Regions in the government of [[Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi]] from 11 August 1990 to 6 November 1990.<ref name="c1990">{{Cite web|url=https://cabinet.gov.pk/SiteImage/Misc/files/Federal%20Cabinet/Cabinet1947/fctc-8-1990-11-90.pdf|title=Federal Care-Taker Cabinet from 06-08-1990 to 06-11-1990|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425174212/https://cabinet.gov.pk/SiteImage/Misc/files/Federal%20Cabinet/Cabinet1947/fctc-8-1990-11-90.pdf|archive-date=2021-04-25}}</ref> After [[Nawaz Sharif]] was elected prime minister, Malik was selected as minister of Kashmir Affairs & Northern Areas from 11 July 1997 to 12 September 1999.<ref name="c1997">{{Cite web |url=https://cabinet.gov.pk/SiteImage/Misc/files/Federal%20Cabinet/Cabinet1947/nawaz-2-1997-99.pdf| title=2nd Term of Mr. Nawaz Sharif from 17-02-1997 to 12-10-1999| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425174146/https://cabinet.gov.pk/SiteImage/Misc/files/Federal%20Cabinet/Cabinet1947/nawaz-2-1997-99.pdf| archive-date=2021-04-25}}</ref>

After [[1999 Pakistani coup d'état|1999 coup d'état]], he left politics and supported his son-in-law, [[Tahir Iqbal]] in the politics from his constituency.<ref name="Dhakku 2016"/>

=== Diplomatic career ===
After he retired from the politics, he was appointed ambassador of Pakistan to [[Morocco]] and later ambassador to France. During his diplomatic career in Morocco, he wrote several letters to [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq]] suggesting on [[Foreign relations of Pakistan|foreign affairs]]. He also sent a letter to general Zia advising to withdraw execution of [[Zulfikar Ali Bhutto]]. In the latter years, he established Majeed Malik Education and Health Foundations.<ref name="Ali 2015">{{cite web | last=Ali | first=Nadir | title=The general's special life - Literati | website=thenews.com.pk | date=2015-04-12 | url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/558404-majeed-malik-generals-special-life | access-date=2021-09-08}}</ref> In 2008, he re-established his associations with Pakistan Muslim League (N) and supported [[Ayaz Amir]] in the politics than contesting general election for himself.<ref name="Newspaper 2013">{{cite web | last=Newspaper | first=From the | title=An old general calls the shots in Chakwal | website=DAWN.COM | date=2013-06-02 | url=http://beta.dawn.com/news/1015553/an-old-general-calls-the-shots-in-chakwal | access-date=2021-09-08}}</ref>

== Books ==
He wrote autobiography titled ''Hum Bhi Wahan Mojood Thay'' (we were there too). The book was published in 2015 by Sang-e-Meel Publications.<ref name="PIPS Library catalog">{{cite web | title=PIPS Library catalog › Details for: Hum Bhi Wahan Mojood Thay | website=PIPS Library catalog | url=http://library.pips.gov.pk/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=571 | access-date=2021-09-08}}</ref> The book contains detailed account of his life, [[Kargil War]] and how [[Chagai-I|Pakistan conducted underground nuclear test]]s. He wrote in his book that [[Pervez Musharraf]] conducted military operations confidentially and didn't reveal the truth to [[Ashfaq Parvez Kayani]]. Kayani knew very little about the 1999 Kargil war. The book future claims that when Musharraf spoke to Chinese military general to discuss 1999 conflict, his phone call was allegedly tapped by the Indian intelligence agencies. The book also criticises Nawaz Sharif for appointing [[Ziauddin Butt]] as chief of army staff and unsuccessful attempts of dismissing Musharraf in 1999. Malik was one of the close associates of Nawaz Sharif, however after 1999 military takeover, he changed his mind and established his political association with Musharraf.<ref name="Free Press Journal">{{cite web | title=Musharraf kept Kayani in dark about Kargil plan | website=Free Press Journal | url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/headlines/musharraf-kept-kayani-in-dark-about-kargil-plan | access-date=2021-09-08}}</ref>

== Controversies ==
In 2005, Malik had to contest [[Local government in Pakistan|district nazim]] election, however, his candidacy on the grounds of his alleged fake matriculation certificate was challenged in the [[Supreme Court of Pakistan]] by Chaudhry Aurangzeb Khan, controller of examination (certificate) of the [[University of the Punjab]] and Mirza Rafiuzzaman, [[Rawalpindi]] district [[returning officer]]. He later filed a petition to the Supreme Court contesting the paper rejection by returning officer. Malik pleaded in his petition that returning officer had never produced reliable material to prove his alleged bogus certificate. Returning officer alleged that Malik had never passed his [[matriculation]] in 1939.<ref>{{cite web | title=Majeed moves SC against papers rejection | website=DAWN.COM | date=2005-09-29 | url=http://beta.dawn.com/news/158781/majeed-moves-sc-against-papers-rejection | access-date=2021-09-08}}</ref>

In December 2005, the supreme court lifted the ban on his nomination paper<ref name="DAWN.COM 2005">{{cite web | title=Majeed Malik allowed to contest poll | website=DAWN.COM | date=2005-09-30 | url=http://beta.dawn.com/news/159008/majeed-malik-allowed-to-contest-poll | access-date=2021-09-08}}</ref> after the University of the Punjab declared his certificate valid.<ref name="BBC 2005">{{cite web | title=BBC Urdu | website=BBC | date=2005-09-05 | url=https://www.bbc.com/urdu/pakistan/story/2005/09/050927_majid_malik_degree_zs | language=ur | access-date=2021-09-08}}</ref>

== Death ==
Malik was suffering from [[coronary artery disease]].<ref name="Desk 2016">{{cite web | last=Desk | first=Web | title=Former federal minister Abdul Majeed passes away | website=The News International | date=2016-06-04 | url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/125251-Former-federal-minister-Abdul-Majeed-passes-away | access-date=2021-09-08}}</ref> He was admitted to the [[Combined Military Hospital]] for medical treatment. He died in [[Islamabad]] on 3 June 2016 in late Friday at the hospital. His body was shifted to his hometown in Chakwal, Punjab and was buried on Saturday in a cemetery at his village, Jand, Chakwal.{{sfn | ''Pakistan Today'' | 2016}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite web | title=The testimony of a general | website=The News International | date=2016-06-21 | url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/129439-The-testimony-of-a-general | ref={{sfnref | The News International | 2016}} | access-date=2021-09-09}}
* {{cite web | last=Singh | first=Rishi | title=The Nazimate of Chakwal | website=The Himalayan Times | date=2005-10-03 | url=https://thehimalayantimes.com/opinion/the-nazimate-of-chakwal | access-date=2021-09-08}}
* {{cite web | title=Former Federal Minister Abdul Majeed passes away | website=Pakistan Today | date=2016-06-04 | url=https://archive.pakistantoday.com.pk/2016/06/04/former-federal-minister-abdul-majeed-passes-away/ | ref={{sfnref | Pakistan Today | 2016}} | access-date=2021-09-08}}
* {{cite web | last=Ishtiaq | first=Humair | title=REVIEW:More than a bystander: Hum Bhi Wahan Maujood Thay | website=DAWN.COM | date=2015-11-15 | url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1219421 | access-date=2021-09-08}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Malik, Abdul Majeed}}
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:2016 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Chakwal District]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Punjab, Pakistan]]
[[Category:Politicians from Punjab, Pakistan]]
[[Category:Petroleum and Natural Resources Ministers of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Pakistani MNAs 1988–1990]]
[[Category:Pakistani MNAs 1990–1993]]
[[Category:Pakistani MNAs 1993–1996]]
[[Category:Pakistani MNAs 1997–1999]]
[[Category:Punjab Regiment officers]]
[[Category:Special Services Group officers]]
[[Category:Military personnel of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
[[Category:Pakistani military personnel of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Pakistan Military Academy faculty]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of Pakistan to France]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of Pakistan to Morocco]]
[[Category:Pakistani generals]]

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