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.[3][4]

Saeedullah Khan
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 byEric 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 byMichael John O'Brian
Deputy Commandant PAF Staff College
In office
January 1964 – September 1964
Commander PAF Station Sargodha
In office
12 January 1962[1] – December 1963
Preceded byMasroor Hosain
Succeeded byZafar 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
Died26 January 2002(2002-01-26) (aged 75)
Lahore, Pakistan
RelativesKhalifa Mohammad Asadullah (father-in-law)
EducationGovernment College, Lahore
No. 1 (I) SFTS
RAF Central Flying School
RAF Staff College, Andover[2]
Military service
Branch/service Royal Indian Air Force (1945-47)
 Pakistan Air Force (1947-73)
Years of service1945–73
Rank Air Vice Marshal
CommandsDeputy 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
AwardsTamgha-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.[5]

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.[6][7]

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."[8]

Early life and education

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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.[2]

Personal life

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Saeedullah married a daughter of Khalifa Mohammad Asadullah.

Royal Indian Air Force career

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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

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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.[2]

In 1948, Flight Lieutenant Saeedullah Khan was instructing Flying Officer Saleem-el-Edroos in dogfight maneuvers when Edroos crashed, resulting in a fatal accident.[9][10]

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.[11]

Saeedullah Khan was deputed to Pakistan International Airlines as the Deputy Managing Director on 29 August 1969 by Abdur Rahim Khan.[12] 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.[13]

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.[14]

Death

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

Effective dates of promotion

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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

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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)

References

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  1. ^ Shaheen: Journal of the Pakistan Air Force. 1984. p. 42.
  2. ^ a b c "Saeedullah Khan promoted Group Captain". The Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore). 15 January 1962.
  3. ^ Hussain, Syed Shabbir; Tariq Qureshi, M. (1982). History of the Pakistan Air Force, 1947-1982. Pakistan Air Force. p. 222. ISBN 978-0-19-648045-9.
  4. ^ Diplomatic List. 1972. p. 80.
  5. ^ Sajad Haider, FLIGHT OF THE FALCON: Demolishing myths of Indo-Pak wars 1965 & 1971, VANGUARD BOOKS, Lahore, 2009
  6. ^ Kothari, Smitu; Mian, Zia (2001). Out of the Nuclear Shadow. Zed Books. p. 408. ISBN 978-1-84277-059-7.
  7. ^ "JOINT STATEMENT AGAINST NUCLEAR TESTS AND WEAPONS BY RETIRED PAKISTANI, INDIAN AND BANGLADESHI ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL". 1 July 1998.
  8. ^ Anwar Shamim (2010). Cutting Edge PAF: Reminiscences. pp. 142–43.
  9. ^ Shaheen: Journal of the Pakistan Air Force. Vol. 35. 1988. p. 40.
  10. ^ Ahmed, Wing Commander Lanky (2001). A Lucky Pilot.
  11. ^ Hussaini, Syed Masood Akhtar (2002). PAF Over the Years. p. 24.
  12. ^ Flight International. Vol. 96. 1969. p. 409.
  13. ^ Woman's World. Vol. 12. 1969.
  14. ^ Survey of People's Republic of China. 1973. p. 237.