Muzaffar Hussain Usmani
Muzaffar Hussain Usmani | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1945 |
| Died | 1 October 2020 (aged 74–75) |
| Allegiance | Pakistan |
| Branch | Pakistan Army |
| Service years | 1966 — 2001 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit | 10th Frontier Force |
| Commands | V Corps XXXI Corps |
| Awards | Hilal-i-Imtiaz |
Muzaffar Hussain Usmani was a three star general of the Pakistan Army, who served as the only Deputy Chief of the Army Staff.[1]
Early life
Usmani was born in 1945 in Muradabad, India. His family had migrated to Pakistan following Independence of Pakistan.[2] He graduated from the St. Patrick's High School, Karachi.[3]
Military career
Usmani was commissioned in the 10th Frontier Force Regiment in 1966.[4]
He served as Vice Chief of General Staff at General Headquarters. As a three star general, he commanded the XXXI Corps.[5] Later, he served as Corps Commander V Corps.[6]
While his tenure as Commander V Corps, he had taken part in a bloodless coup. The then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had dismissed Pervez Musharraf as COAS and appointed Ziauddin Butt.[7][8] Musharraf, who coming from a visit to Sri Lanka, was denied to land.[9][10]
Reportedly, Sharif ordered Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority to divert Musharraf's plane to India, but it was eventually rerouted to Shaheed Benazirabad. When the pilot did not comprehend the situation, the Civil Aviation Authority shut down the runways by turning off the runway edge lights at Jinnah International Airport to block the landing.[11]
Under the leadership of Lt. Gen. Iftikhar, pakistani troops had sealed the airport and had taken over the control tower. Usmani contacted Musharraf and later made his aircraft land safely at the airport.[12][13][14]
Following the coup, Usmani was appointed as the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff. He was the only person in history to hold this appointment so far.[15][1] However, Usmani was reportedly removed shortly after the 1999 coup. His removal came suddenly, hours before the U.S. air strikes on Afghanistan in 2001, as part of a military reshuffle amid post 9/11 tensions.[16][17][18]
References
- ^ a b "Musharraf opens deputy chief post". The Washington Times. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ Khan, Faraz (2 October 2020). "Two former corps commanders Karachi die". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ haris.masood.zuberi (5 May 2011). "Through hardships to the stars : St. Patrick's High School turns 150 years old today". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "Lt. Gen. Muzaffar Hussain Usmani". Daily The Azb. 21 November 2025. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "Former deputy COAS Usmani found dead in car near Karachi beach". Global Village Space. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "Usmani found dead; Akhtar passes away". Business Recorder. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ Newspaper, From the (12 October 2010). "Sharif decided to remove Musharraf after a phone call: Gen (retd) Butt". Dawn. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "Pakistan Calm After Coup; Leading General Gives No Clue About How He Will Rule (Published 1999)". 14 October 1999. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "Under the Gun". TIME.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "Countdown to Pakistan's Coup: A Duel of Nerves in the Air (Published 1999)". 17 October 1999. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "BBC News | South Asia | 'Plot to kill' coup leader". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ Sehgal, By Ikram (23 July 2019). "A leader that Pakistan needs". Gulf News: Latest UAE news. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ Anis, Muhammad (2 October 2020). "Two ex-corps commanders of Karachi die". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "Of Coups, Justice and Democracy! - International Affairs Forum". www.ia-forum.org. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "Pakistan: Lt. Gen. Usmani appointed deputy chief of army staff". Arab News. 2 May 2001. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ Harding, Luke (9 October 2001). "Musharraf dismisses two Islamist generals". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ "Hardline generals ousted to keep army pro-West". www.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
- ^ Gupta, Shishir (22 November 2001). "Anti-Taliban stance: President Musharraf sacks some of the most powerful men in Pakistan". India Today. Retrieved 22 November 2025.