Asghar Khan

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Mohammad Asghar Khan (17 January 1921 – 5 January 2018) known as Night Flier, held the distinction of being the first native and second Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Air Force from 1957 to 1965. He has been described as the Father of the Pakistan Air Force. He was also the ninth president of the Pakistan Football Federation from 1961 to 1965, president of the Pakistan International Airlines from 1965 to 1968, a politician, and author. Born in Jammu, Khan graduated with distinction from the Indian Military Academy and commissioned into the British Indian Army in 1940. With the onset of World War II, the Royal Indian Air Force asked for volunteers and he transferred in December of that year. Stationed in Hyderabad in 1942, he was ordered by the martial law administrator of Sindh to attack a convoy of Hurs traveling with Pir of Pagaro VI. Leading three aircraft, Khan refused upon seeing it consisted of unarmed civilians and returned to base. Threatened with a court-martial, Khan replied, "I cannot follow an unlawful command." Flight Lieutenant Asghar Khan as commander 'B' Flight—No. 9 Sqn, led operations in the Burma Campaign and became the commander of the squadron in 1945. After the war, he considered resigning to participate in the Indonesian revolution but was advised by Jinnah to serve Pakistan's future air force. In 1946, he became the first Indian subcontinent pilot to fly a fighter jet, the Gloster Meteor III while attending the Day Fighter Leaders School at RAF West Raynham. After the Partition of British India, he opted for the Royal Pakistan Air Force and planned to move to Lahore with his wife in 1947. Their home in the Ambala cantonment was reassigned to Wing Commander Nair, who barred them from traveling by train. Though Khan refused to seek...