Saeedullah Khan

Air Vice Marshal Saeedullah Khan TQA (Urdu: سعید اللہ خان; 23 July 1926 – 26 January 2002) was a two-star rank air officer of the Pakistan Air Force. He was a pioneering officer of the PAF, serving as the Deputy Chief of the Air Staff from June 1972 to June 1973 before retiring. In this role, he was one of the right-hand men of CAS of the PAF Zafar Chaudhry, alongside ACAS Operations Khaqan Abbasi and Director Air Intelligence Mufti.

Air Vice Marshal Saeedullah Khan TQA
سعید اللہ خان
Portrait, c. 1964
Deputy Chief of Air Staff Pakistan Air Force
In office 22 June 1972 – 29 June 1973
Pakistan Air Attaché to Washington
In office January 1970 – May 1972
Succeeded by	Eric G. Hall
Deputy Managing Director Pakistan International Airlines
In office 29 August 1969 – January 1970
Command and staff positions 11th Commandant PAF Academy In office February 1968 – 28 August 1969 Succeeded by Michael John O'Brian Deputy Commandant PAF Staff College In office January 1964 – September 1964 Commander PAF Station Sargodha In office 12 January 1962 – December 1963 Preceded by Masroor Hosain Succeeded by Zafar Masud Commander No 33 Air Supply Wing In office May 1961 – 11 January 1962 Commander No 32 Fighter Ground Attack Wing In office 5 May 1958 – 24 October 1958 Commander No. 2 Squadron PAF In office 19 July 1956 – 10 April 1957 Commander No. 9 Squadron PAF In office September 1953 – December 1955
Personal details
Born	(1926-07-23)23 July 1926 Bhagalpur, British India
Died	26 January 2002(2002-01-26) (aged 75) Lahore, Pakistan
Relatives	Khalifa Mohammad Asadullah (father-in-law)
Education	Government College, Lahore No. 1 (I) SFTS RAF Central Flying School RAF Staff College, Andover
Military service
Branch/service	Royal Indian Air Force (1945-47) Pakistan Air Force (1947-73)
Years of service	1945–73
Rank	Air Vice Marshal
Commands	Deputy Chief of Air Staff Air Attaché to Washington PAF Academy Director Operations 1965 War Deputy Commandant PAF Staff College PAF Station Sargodha No. 33 Air Supply Wing No. 32 FGA Wing No. 2 Squadron PAF No. 9 Squadron PAF
Battles/wars	World War II Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Air war operations
Awards	Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam (1963)

In the book, Flight of the Falcon, Sajad Haider writes that Saeedullah and Khaqan were involved in a witch-hunt against PAF officers, including Sajad himself, attempting to implicate them in the Attock conspiracy at the behest of Zafar Chaudhry. Haider and other PAF officers discovered with great awe and excitement that Prime Minister Bhutto sacked Saeedullah Khan, Khaqan Abbasi, and Zafar Chaudhry from their duties due to allegations of intrigue and witch-hunting. Saeedullah and Khaqan were not allowed to attend their offices and were unceremoniously and prematurely retired when the PAF command changed under Bhutto. Sajad further notes that Saeedullah Khan retired "into oblivion", playing the stock market with Hamid Qureshi, a 1965 War drop-out. Khan later worked for a rogue financial company involved in illicit financial dealings. Sajad writes that despite being financially honest, Saeedullah Khan was likely a victim of circumstances.

In July 1998, Saeedullah was among 63 retired Pakistani, Indian, and Bengali armed forces personnel who signed an agreement urging Pakistan and India to refrain from developing nuclear weapons. Instead, they advocated for limiting nuclear research and development strictly to peaceful and beneficial purposes. They also called for Pakistan and India to resolve their disputes through peaceful means and address their real problems of poverty and backwardness, rather than wasting their scarce resources on acquiring means of destruction.

Air Chief Marshal Anwar Shamim recalled, "I learnt a lot especially from Group Captain Saeedullah Khan. He was well read, knowledgeable, and had excellent grasp of what the PAF needed for the future. He was firm and demanded hard work from his subordinates. He was a thorough gentleman and dedicated family man. He was a well-dressed officer and also appreciated those who dressed up well. In fact, he was what one would truly call an officer and gentleman."

Early life and education

Saeedullah Khan was born on 23 July 1926 in Bhagalpur to S.A. Khan, an officer of the Indian Civil Service. Saeedullah graduated from the Government College, Lahore.

Personal life

Saeedullah married a daughter of Khalifa Mohammad Asadullah.

Royal Indian Air Force career

Saeedullah Khan was commissioned into the RIAF on 17 September 1945, after graduating from the 38th course of the No. 1 (I) SFTS.

Pakistan Air Force career

After the Partition of British India, he opted for the RPAF. From 28 August 1947 to 14 January 1948, Saeedullah attended the No. 102 Flying Instructors Course of the RAF Central Flying School.

In 1948, Flight Lieutenant Saeedullah Khan was instructing Flying Officer Saleem-el-Edroos in dogfight maneuvers when Edroos crashed, resulting in a fatal accident.

In 1951, No. 9 Squadron formed the first aerobatics team on their Hawker Fury's, known as "The Red Dragons", which was the first aerobatic team in the Indian subcontinent. They performed at the farewell ceremony for the outgoing C-in-C of the RPAF Richard Atcherley. The team members were Sqn Ldr Zafar Chaudhry, Flt Lt Saeedullah Khan, Flying Officer's T. H. Gotting and M. Hayat Khan.

Saeedullah Khan was deputed to Pakistan International Airlines as the Deputy Managing Director on 29 August 1969 by Abdur Rahim Khan. During his tenure, Saeedullah inaugurated a two-week course on aviation accident prevention and investigation. The course, was held for the first time in Pakistan and was co-sponsored by the PIA, CAA, and the Swedish Institute of Aviation Safety.

On the visit of the Chinese basketball team to Pakistan in 1973, the Chinese embassy gave a reception which was attended by AVM Saeedullah Khan, other senior officials and Pakistani basketball players.

Death

Saeedullah died on 26 January 2002 at the age of 75 in Lahore, Pakistan.

Effective dates of promotion

Insignia	Rank	Date
	Air Vice Marshal	June 1972
	Air Commodore	January 1964
	Group Captain	13 January 1962
	Wing Commander	5 May 1958
	Squadron Leader	September 1953
	Flight Lieutenant	1948
	Flying Officer	17 September 1946
	Pilot Officer	17 September 1945

Awards and decorations

PAF GD(P) Badge RED (More than 3000 Flying Hours)
Pakistan Medal (Pakistan Tamgha) 1947		Tamgha-e-Jamhuria (Republic Commemoration Medal) 1956	Tamgha-e-Diffa (Defence Medal) 1947 war Clasp
War Medal 1939–1945	Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953	Tamgha-e-Quaid-e-Azam Medal of the Quaid-e-Azam 1963	Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War (War Star 1965)