Asghar Khan

Mohammad Asghar Khan was born on 17 January 1921 in Tavi, Jammu, into an Afridi Pashtun Sunni Muslim family. He was the son of Brigadier Rehmatullah Khan and his fourth wife, Gulam Fatima.^[43] Rehmatullah had children from his first and fourth marriages. From his first wife, he had Aysha Bibi, who passed away at age 12 from an illness, and Colonel Nasrullah Khan. From his fourth wife, Gulam Fatima, his children in order of age were Aslam Khan, Asghar Khan, Major Muhammad Anwar Khan, Pilot Officer M. Asaf Khan,^[44] Commander Mohammad Afzal Khan of the Pakistan Navy, Salma Rehmat,^[b] Squadron Leader M. Khalid Khan,^[c][45][46] Mohammad Tariq Khan,^[d] Shamim Rehmat,^[e] Zarina Rehmat,^[f] and Farooq Rehmatullah.^[g][47][48]

He completed his early education at the Chief's College, Lahore.^[49]

Ranjit Singh, distrusted the Sikh Rajwaras, and hired two distinct groups as bodyguards. One group consisted of Dogras led by Gulab Singh, while the other was a Pashtun group mainly made up of Malikdin Khel Afridi's, known for their military skills in the Khyber Pass. The Pashtun group was led by Sardar Asad Khan and his son, Sardar Samad Khan, who was Asghar Khan's paternal grandfather. After Ranjit Singh died in 1839, internal conflicts among Sikh warlords left these forces without roles. Consequently, they returned to their homelands. In 1846, Gulab Singh purchased the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Facing resistance from Dogra warlords, Gulab Singh sought help from his Afridi ally, Sardar Samad Khan. Responding to the call, Sardar Samad Khan arrived with a substantial force of Afridis and their families. They settled in an area called Hai Hama, about three miles north of Kupwara. The Afridi men joined various campaigns to suppress Dogra warlords and quell uprisings in Yasin, Hunza, and Nagar.^[50] Asghar Khan's paternal grandmother was from Yasin. Sardar Samad Khan eventually settled in Battal-Ballian, near Udhampur in Jammu and Kashmir (princely state), where he lived until his death in 1900.

Major General Sardar Sumandar Khan, Asghar Khan's paternal uncle, played a key role as the commander of Maharaja Hari Singh’s Kashmir Army. His leadership was particularly noted for fostering camaraderie within the first Kashmir Regiment, which, under his guidance, constructed a hockey ground at Bunji, about 25 km from Gilgit on a steep hillside, showcasing their dedication. After his military career, General Sumandar Khan contributed significantly to the Muslim community. As the co-founder^[51] and President of the Anjuman-e-Islamia, Jammu,^[52] he helped establish a girls’ high school in Mohalla Dalpattian and secured part of Jammu Fort for a boys’ school, transforming it into Islamia High School.^[53]

Major General Sumandar Khan was known for his generosity, keeping his home open to anyone in need within the Mohalla. His strong influence extended to his interactions with the Maharaja of Kashmir, who showed him great respect during his visits to the Durbar. Although he did not have children, he provided care and guidance to his youngest brother Rahmatullah Khan's children.^[53][54]

He married Amina Shamsie in 1946, while serving as the Chief Flying Instructor at RIAF Station Ambala.^[4] She was the sister of Syed Saleem Shamsie, the husband of Muneeza Shamsie.

Asghar and Amina had two daughters, Nasreen and Shereen, and two sons, Ali Asghar Khan and Cambridge-educated Professor Omar Asghar Khan, who died under mysterious circumstances two months before the 2002 Pakistani general election, during the regime of General Musharraf.^[55]

After Omar's murder, Ardeshir Cowasjee wrote an article in Dawn, stating: "The indefatigable old warrior of our skies is wounded, as sorely wounded as any father of 81 years of age who has tragically lost his eldest son, himself a father, under the most mysterious and peculiar of circumstances, a son endowed with much talent and intelligence with a future before him even brighter than his past. For this great tragedy that has struck him, his endearing wife, and his family, we can but express our most sincere condolences. As an old-time officer and a gentleman to his fingertips, as an honest man of moderate means, and as a man who genuinely wished to do good by the poverty-stricken, uneducated of this country, there was no way, no way at all, that Air Marshal Asghar Khan could succeed as a politician of Pakistan, given the environment, the atmosphere that prevails and the mindset of the majority."^[56]

In 1933, Asghar Khan saw an advertisement for the Prince of Wales Royal Indian Military College (PWRIMC) and enrolled there after convincing his father who was initially reluctant. In March 1933, he arrived in Dehradun at the PWRIMC for the interview after being selected. Here, his classmates were Sahabzada Yaqub Khan and Nur Khan, who Asghar Khan became close friends with.^[57] Following six years at the college, Khan was now eligible to take the entrance exam in Delhi to join the Indian Military Academy (IMA). He was among 12 students from the entire Indian subcontinent, including Sahabzada Yaqub Khan and Tikka Khan, who were selected for training.^[57]

Asghar Khan and Sahabzada Yaqub Khan lived in Srinagar and were required to undergo medical examinations at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Sialkot before joining the IMA. Upon reporting to the CMH, they underwent laboratory tests and were examined by Major Puri of the Indian Medical Services. While Yaqub was declared fit, Asghar Khan was informed that he had a serious disease and a limited time to live. He was admitted to the hospital and instructed to limit his physical activities, as exertion could further shorten his lifespan.^[57]

Major Puri estimated that Asghar Khan had only two to three months to live. The laboratory tests revealed high levels of albumin in his urine, which was considered dangerous. Yaqub bid him farewell, and Asghar Khan asked him to inform his father in Srinagar about his condition. Although he felt perfectly healthy, Asghar Khan spent two anxious days in the hospital until his father arrived, accompanied by a doctor from Srinagar and some medical books. These books explained that albumin had once been considered dangerous, but recent studies showed that some members of the Cambridge University rowing team had albumin in their urine, and further research distinguished between two types of albumin: caustic and functional. The caustic type was dangerous, while the functional type was harmless. In Asghar Khan's case, the albumin was determined to be functional. Major Puri, convinced by this information, declared him fit to join the IMA.^[57]

After 1½ years^[h] of training, Khan graduated with distinction and was commissioned into the 9th Deccan Horse of the British Indian Army in January 1940.^[58] He initially dreamed of being a fighter pilot in the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) and in 1939 tried to transfer just before World War II broke out, but RAF College Cranwell to which he wanted to go first, had accepted only one Indian pilot for training in 1938, and entries were frozen.^[59]

After the outbreak of World War II, the RIAF began inducting personnel again. Khan in pursuit of his dream to become a fighter pilot, was seconded to the Air Force on 22 December 1940. Asghar Khan was stationed in Hyderabad, Sindh in 1942, where his commanding officer Flt Lt Om Prakash Mehra was ordered by Major General Richardson, the Martial Law Administrator of Sindh, to destroy a convoy of Hurs that was proceeding East with Pir of Pagaro VI.^[60] Mehra ordered Asghar Khan to lead the flight, with Richardson telling them that this was an important mission and he would wait at the airbase for their return.^[60]

After taking off with four aircraft, Khan came across the convoy but upon seeing them, noticed that they were unarmed men, women, and children. He refused to carry out the order and returned to base without firing a single shot, telling an annoyed Richardson, who threatened him with a court-martial, "I cannot follow an unlawful command."^[61][60]

From 13 December 1944 to 27 August 1945, Flt. Lt. Asghar Khan served as the Flight Commander of 'B' Flight of the No. 9 Squadron RIAF stationed in Burma during World War II.^[62]

Group Captain Michael Patrick Owen Blake recalled his time with Asghar Khan, stating: 'I will always remember Asghar Khan as the Flight Commander of No. 9 Squadron. Nearby, there was an American squadron equipped with twin-boom Lightning fighters, and they made the mistake of calling our Hurricanes 'peashooters.' In response, Asghar invited them to a dogfight over the base. Despite being outnumbered two to one, Asghar skillfully got on their tails, and there was nothing they could do to shake him off. The two USAF pilots landed much more subdued than when they took off!'^[63]

After Dalip Singh Majithia fell ill in late February 1945, his former squadron mate, Flt Lt Asghar Khan, flew him to a hospital in Calcutta in a Harvard aircraft.^[64]

When Asghar Khan came back to British India from Burma, he recalls that President Sukarno called pilots from around the Muslim world to help Indonesia fight against Dutch colonizers. Feeling disillusioned with bureaucracy and inspired by Sukarno's anti-imperialist campaigns against the Dutch, Khan contemplated resigning from the RIAF to assist Indonesia in their quest for independence. Before making a decision, he walked four miles to Safdarjung Airport to meet Jinnah in November 1945. This was their first meeting, and Jinnah advised him to work for the anticipated new country, Pakistan's air force, instead.^[65] Promoted to Squadron Leader, Asghar Khan was appointed Commanding Officer of No. 9 Squadron RIAF from 28 August 1945.^[66]

In 1946, Khan attended the Day Fighter Leaders School and was awarded an 'A' grade as Squadron Commander. While here, he had the unique distinction of becoming the Indian subcontinent's first pilot to fly a fighter jet, the Gloster Meteor III, on 20 May 1946.^[67][16]

On 7 June 1947, Sqn Ldr Asghar Khan joined the sub-committee led by Allan Perry-Keene to distribute the defense assets of British India between the proposed states of Pakistan and India. Khan's attachment with No. 9 Squadron RIAF, which he had commanded, was so deep that he insisted the squadron be awarded to the RPAF, which it was.^[33]

After the Partition of British India, Sqn Ldr Khan opted for Pakistan and was set to depart with his family from Ambala by train to Lahore on 23 August 1947. The house where he was staying, was assigned to Wing Commander Nair of the Royal Indian Air Force. Nair and his wife stayed as guests until Asghar Khan and his wife left. During this time, there were killings of Muslims, but Khan had limited information due to news censorship.^[57]

A few days before Asghar Khan's departure, Wg Cdr Nair, who was informed about the dire situation in the two new countries, advised Asghar not to travel by train due to the ongoing massacres. Instead, Nair suggested that Asghar Khan ask Allan Perry-Keene, the Commander-in-Chief of the RPAF, to arrange an aircraft for their journey. Asghar Khan was hesitant, stating to Nair that it would be odd for him, as a squadron leader to make such a request, but Nair insisted he would contact Keene himself if Khan did not.^[57]

Nair called Keene and he agreed. Two days later, a DC-3 Dakota which was carrying Keene's luggage from Delhi destined for Peshawar, arrived for Khan and his family in Ambala. As they flew towards Peshawar, Asghar Khan recalls that he witnessed houses ablaze in almost every village from Ambala to the Pakistani border near Lahore. Khan writes that these were evidently the homes of Muslims, and this sight created an unforgettable and distressing sight for him. Khan later discovered that all the passengers on the train he initially planned to take had been massacred, and none had survived the journey to Pakistan.^[57]

Following his arrival in Pakistan, Asghar Khan was entrusted with starting up the PAF Academy from scratch and appointed as its first commandant. He managed to build it to the extent that in a short time it produced as many pilots as could have been trained in British India. In September 1948, he was succeeded by Nur Khan.^[68]

After a 10-day gap in supply drops, a critical mission was undertaken on the night of 17/18 November 1948, during the First Kashmir War. Wing Commander M. Asghar Khan and Squadron Leader M.J. Khan successfully flew the first hazardous night sortie, leading to further operations that helped prevent enemy advances. Asghar Khan also oversaw the transport of vital equipment, such as a mortar barrel flown from Risalpur to Gilgit. His brother, Major Aslam Khan, played a key role on the ground, later contributing to the capture of Muzaffarabad, earning recognition as a liberator of Kashmir.^[33]

He attended the RAF Staff College, Andover in 1950 and served briefly as the acting Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Pakistan Air Force from 10 September 1951 to 30 September 1951, during AVM Leslie William Cannon's tour of England.^{[67][69][70][71]}

In 1952, he was selected for the Joint Services Staff College (UK) and attended the Imperial Defence College in 1955, the highest institution for military personnel in those days. Here, he attempted to learn Egyptian Arabic and tried speaking it with an Egyptian attaché in Pakistan, but was greeted with helpless laughter, its noted that the language he had studied was not true Arabic but the version used by the British when shopping in the Muskey Bazaar in Cairo.^[67]

In June 1955, the Minister of Defence Ayub Khan, asked Wing Commander S.M. Lanky Ahmad about the most suitable Pakistani officer to become the next C-in-C of the PAF. Lanky responded that as the Defence Minister, Ayub Khan was in the best position to judge. However, Ayub Khan insisted on hearing Lanky's personal opinion. Lanky referred to the PAF seniority list and mentioned three likely candidates: AVM Haider Raza, Air Commodores Maqbool Rabb, and Asghar Khan. He strongly recommended Asghar Khan, who was still actively flying and very popular. Lanky also noted that Prime Minister Muhammad Ali Bogra had already recommended AVM Raza for the position, and the file was awaiting Governor-General Malik Ghulam Muhammad's approval at the Defence Ministry.^[72]

Air Commodore Asghar Khan was appointed Chief of the Pakistan Air Force by Prime Minister H. S. Suhrawardy on 20 April 1957, set to assume command upon the retirement of Arthur McDonald.^[73] On 23 July 1957, Asghar Khan was promoted to Air Vice Marshal, becoming the first native C-in-C of the PAF, succeeding McDonald.^[74]

The handing-over ceremony took place at PAF Station Mauripur with a lineup of over 100 aircraft, primarily F-86 and T-33 jets, on the tarmac. A guard of honor from PAF Station Mauripur was present for the ceremony. After inspecting the contingent and reviewing the aircraft, outgoing Air Vice Marshal McDonald praised the growing efficiency of the Pakistan Air Force and reflected on its progress over the last ten years. "Thus in ten years," he said, "from small beginnings and starting with extremely meagre resources, the Pakistan Air Force has developed into a small, but efficient and self-contained air force, capable of operating and maintaining the most modern equipment."^{[citation needed]}

In his response, Asghar Khan thanked McDonald for his generous tribute to the PAF's growing efficiency and acknowledged the contributions of the Royal Air Force to the development of the Pakistan Air Force. He further expressed confidence that, as members of the Commonwealth, SEATO, and the Baghdad Pact, their relationship would grow in strength and importance. Continuing, he noted his optimism about the demonstrated enthusiasm and efficiency of PAF personnel and emphasized the strong support they had received from both the government and the nation in building this crucial arm of Pakistan's defense forces.^{[citation needed]}

During a meeting in Washington, D.C. on 29 April 1958, between Pakistani representatives and Mansfield D. Sprague, Assistant Secretary of Defense (ISA), Field Marshal Ayub Khan and Air Vice Marshal Asghar Khan discussed military aid to Pakistan. Ayub requested the expedited delivery of a light bomber squadron under the 1954 Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement. When Asghar Khan learned the aircraft would be the B–57, he expressed his concerns as a technician, stating it was outdated and unworthy of Pakistani resources. He argued that the B-66 Destroyer or English Electric Canberras would be better options. Ayub Khan appeared shocked by the back-and-forth discussion, especially as Asghar Khan remained adamant against accepting the B–57 despite assurances of its quality. The meeting concluded with plans for Asghar Khan to visit a U.S. squadron operating B–57s for further evaluation.^[75]

The first B-57 Canberra of the PAF was piloted by Air Marshal Asghar Khan and landed on 23 November 1959 at PAF Station Drigh Road. He became the 1,131st recipient of the Certificate of Supersonic Recognition for Mach busting after piloting the world's fastest fighter airplane at the time, the F-104 Starfighter in February 1960. The award was presented to him by Major General Viccellio of the USAF.^[9]

The Peshawar Golf Club celebrated its Centenary in 1963 under the leadership of its president, Air Marshal Asghar Khan. To mark the occasion, he invited professional golfer John Jacobs^[76] from Middlesex's Sandy Lodge Club.^[77]

In 1964, Asghar Khan became the first air chief to lead the fly past on the Pakistan Day parade in an B-57 Canberra.^[78]

In the lead-up to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, tensions between India and Pakistan escalated. On 8 April 1965, both nations launched attacks on each other's posts. On 14 April 1965, Air Marshal Asghar Khan called Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh of India—his former colleague from the RIAF—and they agreed to keep their air forces out of the conflict. During this phone call, Asghar Khan warned that if the Indian Air Force (IAF) targeted Pakistani ground forces, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) would respond as necessary, potentially escalating the conflict. Despite pressure from Indian military leaders to deploy the IAF, Arjan Singh concurred with Asghar Khan's stance and refrained from sending the IAF into action. Aware of the PAF's strategic advantages with airfields in Karachi and Badin, Arjan Singh supported this mutual understanding. This agreement helped prevent the use of air power during the early stages of the conflict, despite the rising tensions between the two countries.^[79][80]

Asghar Khan was initially uninterested in taking on any government position, expressing his desire for retirement and reluctance to engage in employment. However, President Ayub Khan insisted that he continue his service but as the Head of the Civil Aviation and Tourism. Despite his efforts to dissuade Ayub, he remained firm in his insistence. After extensive discussions and debates, Asghar Khan eventually agreed to the president's suggestion. He communicated his willingness to temporarily hold the position until a suitable replacement for the PIA could be found. Asghar Khan continued serving in his rank of Air Marshal and dedicated his skills to enhance the airlines performance and ensured its success during his tenure.^[81]

After assuming this position, Asghar Khan moved to a larger residence in Karachi, which allowed him more time to enjoy his favorite sport, golf. It was observed that the serene environment of the golf course might have inspired some of the policies now evident in PIA. To promote similar recreational activities, Asghar Khan planned the development of additional golf courses in Pakistan, and he had already increased the domestic baggage allowance to accommodate golf equipment. In his role as head of the national tourism organization, Asghar was also tasked with improving recreational facilities across the country. His responsibilities in tourism were balanced with his duties as executive head of PIA and his third major role as the chief administrator of Civil Aviation. All of these positions were under the Ministry of Defence, which also oversaw the Air Force. Given his prior experience on PIA's board of directors, these roles were not as unfamiliar to him as he humbly suggested. Asghar Khan quickly began strengthening PIA's organizational structure, aligning it with changes he was implementing in the other organizations he oversaw. His main base of operations was his office at Karachi Airport, where he delegated much of his authority to senior staff members.^[82]

Before Asghar Khan's appointment, his brother, Afzal Khan, who was a former Commander in the Pakistan Navy and the owner of a dairy company, had a lucrative contract to supply PIA, which accounted for 50% of Afzal's profit. Asghar Khan canceled this contract upon taking over, citing that it was not ethically acceptable to him for his brother to make money while he was the head of the airline.^[81]

During a news conference in Karachi on 11 May 1967, Air Marshal Asghar Khan announced that Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) had become the fifth largest profit-making airline in the world, carrying one million passengers annually.^[83] At a press conference held at the PIA headquarters in Karachi in July 1967, Asghar Khan announced plans for the construction of a series of small hotels in major cities and resort areas across the country, with a total investment of PKR 44.5 million (approximately $9,345,000). The project included building 64-room hotels in Sylhet, Sargodha, Sukkur, Mohenjo-daro, Chitral, Gilgit, and Kaptai, and 88-room hotels in Khulna, Lyallpur, Multan, and Murree, with an additional 20 cottages attached to the new 644 room Kaptai Hotel. Furthermore, Peshawar and Chittagong will each have hotels with 125 rooms.^[84] These establishments are designed to be European-style motels equipped with modern amenities such as air conditioning, heating, parking facilities, and swimming pools. The hotels were completed in 1970.^[85] A new holding company was established to attract domestic investment for this venture, in addition to forming small companies in the cities where the hotels will be located. For the foreign exchange portion, which constitutes 20% of the total cost, successful discussions were conducted with the Export-Import Bank. The entire project relied on private investment, with no financial participation from the Government of Pakistan. Air Marshal Asghar Khan mentioned that the PIA Board of Directors approved an investment of approximately Rs. 10 million for the project. Pakistan Services Ltd., which operated the Intercontinental hotel chain, contributed significantly. Local municipal bodies were approached for investment as well. Bechtel Corp. of New York prepared the design and cost estimates for the proposed motels. To ensure cost-effectiveness and timely execution, it was recommended that a standardized design be used for all the motels, utilizing local materials, equipment, and expertise as much as possible.^[85]

The PIA Pavilion for the Pakistan Golf Federation was opened by Air Marshal Asghar Khan on 26 March 1968, which is now the Clubhouse of Islamabad Gymkhana Club.^[86]

Asghar Khan officially transferred control of PIA to Air Vice Marshal Mohammad Akhtar on 23 July 1968, after going on leave on 7 May. The airline, which had achieved eight consecutive years of profitability under both Asghar Khan and his predecessor, Air Marshal Nur Khan, expanded its routes during Asghar Khan's tenure, to new destinations including Paris, Istanbul, Nairobi, and Bangkok.^{[87][88][89][90]}

After retiring from the airline, Asghar Khan lived quietly at his home in Abbottabad. Before being imprisoned by Field Marshal Ayub Khan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto approached Asghar Khan, asking him to join his party, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Asghar Khan declined, stating he had no interest in politics. Bhutto then confided, "Ayub will have me killed through the Nawab of Kalabagh." In response, Asghar Khan assured him, "If Ayub arrests you, I will publicly protest on your behalf." After Bhutto's arrest on 13 November 1968, Asghar Khan held a press conference in Lahore on 17 November 1968, where he openly criticized Field Marshal Ayub Khan. During his speech, Khan remarked, "graft, nepotism, corruption, and administrative incompetence are affecting the lives and happiness of millions. Social inequality and economic disparity are increasing. Telephones are tapped, opinion is shackled, the opposition is shadowed and jailed, and no one can express his views fully." The following week, Khan told The Times, "at present the whole structure stinks. It is not a healthy system, there is no criticism. The press is completely suppressed, there is no check on the government. We are bordering on a police state." Asghar Khan led protests calling for Bhutto's release, which ultimately led to his freedom and grew so close to Bhutto that many saw him as a potential successor.^{[91][92] [93][57][94][49]}

On 17 December 1968, Asghar Khan was charged by the Government of Pakistan for unlawfully inciting a crowd to assemble in Dacca.^[95] Asghar Khan rose to the status of a national hero and was often referred to as the "President-in-waiting." Even the government-controlled press under President Ayub Khan regarded him as a potential successor.^[96]

After Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had been released from house arrest in February 1969, he came to visit Asghar Khan and again extended an invitation to join his party, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). However, Khan expressed disinterest, stating that he had no intention of entering politics. When Khan inquired about the party's agenda, Bhutto laughed and looked to his entourage, and remarked, "Look at how simple this man (Asghar) is." He then said, "The people are fools; we will deceive them. We will be in power for 20 years, the danda (stick) will be in our hands, and no one will be able to remove us." Asghar Khan replied, "From this day forward I will be in opposition against you."^[97]

Asghar Khan formed the Justice Party on 13 March 1969, which later merged into the Pakistan Democratic Party.^{[98][99][100][101]} In this capacity, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Manifesto Committee. Mushtaq Ahmed noted that "He (Asghar) was already an author of a manifesto issued earlier by the Justice Party, which was sufficiently radical, to raise hopes that the draft would be influenced by his thinking. This is what actually happened."^[102] Asghar Khan launched the Tehreek-e-Istiqlal (Movement for Solidarity) on 1 March 1970.^[103]

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Asghar Khan were among several leaders ahead of the 1970 Pakistani general election who declared that, if elected, they would reclaim Indian-administered Kashmir by force.^[104] Asghar Khan ran for a seat in the National Assembly of Pakistan in the 1970 election, with NW-26 Rawalpindi-I as his constituency, he thought its large voting population, connected to the armed forces, would value the contributions of the former Air Marshal, if he was elected. He was the runner-up with 28,209 votes.^[105][106]

The New York Times reported that Asghar Khan offered a conciliatory program focused on major development efforts in East Pakistan and genuine political freedom for its people, but it was completely censored. On 8 October 1971, he announced his withdrawal from the election, stating that no candidate could run unless they had access to the press to reach the public. "Today is a black day for democracy in Pakistan," he said, "when even I, with a mild program breaking no martial-law regulations, am frozen out." After the Pakistan Army occupied East Pakistan and banned the Awami League, the election was effectively annulled. Some elected assemblymen were cleared by the army to take their seats, but most had fled to India or joined the guerrillas.^[107]

During Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's rule from 1971 to 1977, Asghar Khan emerged as a significant opposition figure. In the lead up to the 1977 elections, Khan's party gained popularity, attracting many political leaders and openly criticizing the PPP government. This criticism created intense rivalry between the two parties. It is noted that Khan's determination and fearlessness set him apart from other leaders.

At a public meeting, he was injured by a stone thrown by a PPP mob led by their MNA. On another occasion, his jeep was set on fire by a PPP worker during a trip to Gujranwala. Despite these attacks, Khan continued to criticize the PPP government, though his statements were often censored in the press. He was also threatened by a PPP Federal Minister and targeted in protests where his images were burned.

Despite these challenges, Khan's resolve and public support prevented a decline in his morale. Bhutto refrained from arresting Khan, fearing it would increase his popularity. Over five and a half years, Khan's Tehrik-e-Istiqlal party grew stronger due to its opposition to Bhutto. Khan's phone was tapped, and he was constantly followed by intelligence agents, but he remained undeterred.

In March 1972, Asghar Khan had described President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as, "a living Yazid."^[108] Zulfikar sent Ghulam Qadir Bhutto with 70 armed men who seized and looted Khan's 242 acre farm in Sukkur at 10:30AM on 10 July 1972,^[109] a matter later denied by the Chief Minister in the Sindh Assembly. A few weeks later, Khan's house in Abbottabad was burned down, garnering significant public attention. Despite a police investigation, the findings were never disclosed, and Khan's family was forced to live in a stable.^[110][111]

While addressing members of the Peshawar Bar Association on 6 November 1972, Asghar Khan accused Bhutto of allowing Pakistani POW's of the 1971 War to remain in India so that he could use their return to his advantage in the next elections.^[112] On 30 November 1972, Asghar Khan was attacked by the police and wounded while he was on his way to Multan to investigate the death of a student in a demonstration.^[113]

The New Pakistan Times newspaper was ordered by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to air propaganda and "expose Asghar Khan". However, as the campaign developed, Bhutto called it off saying he didn't want a full-scale campaign against Asghar Khan because "that will be stupid and give him importance and blow him up", instead he directed that Asghar Khan should be "exposed surreptitiously and casually, without building a media campaign against him". In another attempt, he desired that Asghar should be portrayed as a "joker" so that the people should learn through the press "that we have a clown in our midst". Asghar Khan was therefore spared from an orchestrated campaign although like other opposition leaders, he was continuously subjected to character assassination and slanderous attacks by the media. On occasions even false and fabricated reports were planted in the press about him.^[114]

Khwaja Mohammed Rafique, a prominent politician who was the father of Khawaja Saad Rafique, the president of the right-wing Pakistan Unity Party and former chief of the Pakistan Democratic Party, was fatally shot by unidentified attackers in Lahore on 20 December 1972. He was on his way home after participating in a procession organized by Tehreek-e-Istiqlal, which was led by Asghar Khan. The demonstration, protested primarily against inflation and was held to mark a "black day" on the first anniversary of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's presidency.^[115] Khan described Rafique's "murder in broad daylight, under the very nose of the police", as a "shocking act of gangsterism," and accused the Government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of aiding and encouraging armed "hooligans".^[116]

Asghar Khan suggested that Pakistan form a defence pact with China in 1974, in order to combat a potential nuclear threat from India.^[117]

He was detained by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's Federal Security Force (FSF) on 1 December 1974. This occurred because Bhutto, who was on a political tour, wanted to prevent Asghar from holding rallies. In response, Tehrik-e-Istiqlal threatened to organize demonstrations at Pakistani embassies worldwide to protest the unlawful detention of their leader. On 17 December 1974, Ahmad Raza Khan Kasuri informed the National Assembly that Asghar Khan had been forcibly confined in a house in Hyderabad, Sindh for the past four days, with 100 security personnel surrounding the premises.^[118][119]

On 7 January 1977, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto announced that the next elections would be held on 7 March. In preparation, Asghar Khan was instrumental in organizing the Pakistan National Alliance, a group of parties opposed to Bhutto and his government.^[120]

During discussions, it was concluded that the opposition parties were too divided to present a united front against the People's Party. Asghar Khan was approached by Sardar Sherbaz Khan Mazari and Professor Abdul Ghafoor Ahmed to join the United Democratic Front but declined due to previous negative experiences with alliances. Despite efforts, Asghar Khan and Maulana Noorani only agreed to meet other UDF leaders. They set conditions for joining that mainly concerned the allocation of seats. Bhutto aimed to prevent Asghar Khan from gaining a leadership position within the opposition alliance, eventually securing Mufti Mahmud as the head of the PNA. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his advisers were overly confident, believing there was no threat in any alliance that wasn't led by Asghar Khan. In their view, any such alliance was insignificant compared to the PPP.^[121]

Asghar Khan attracted massive crowds during rallies leading up to the 1977 Pakistani general election, with the BBC reporting that over 1.6 million people attended his rally in February of that year. He won the election in NA-13 Abbottabad-II with 35,711 votes and in NA-190 Karachi VIII with 44,252 votes, securing a seat in the National Assembly of Pakistan.^[122][123] He had contested the election in multiple constituencies, including NA-1 Peshawar,^[124] NA-38 Rawalpindi, and NA-12 Abbottabad, finishing second in all three with 34,040, 40,037, and 26,954 votes, respectively.^{[125][126][127]}

On 12 May 1977, Bhutto charged Asghar Khan with high treason during a speech at the National Assembly.^[128]

While imprisoned in Kot Lakhpat Jail, Asghar Khan read a newspaper report about a Pakistan Army Major who had executed a boy for making a V sign towards him on 21 May 1977, during the Martial Law imposed by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. This incident prompted him to write a letter condemning the army's actions and urging officers to discern between lawful and unlawful commands amid Bhutto's severe crackdown on nationwide protests against the rigged March 1977 elections. His remarks were misinterpreted as a call for military intervention.^[35][36] Two months later, General Zia-ul-Haq would carry out the coup that overthrew Bhutto's government. Asghar Khan was seen as a possible successor to President Zia-ul-Haq after he promised to restore to a civilian government in 1979.^[129]

In September 1979, President Zia-ul-Haq placed Asghar Khan under house arrest. He was released on 18 March 1980 by the courts, Khan called for the overthrow of President Zia, and referred to him as "a usurper who led a ruthless junta which ruled by deceit and lies".^[130]

He was put under house arrest again on 29 May 1980 as was Benazir Bhutto, after Zia amended the constitution to block any legal challenges to his military courts and martial law government.^[131] On 5 August 1980, opposition party leaders, including senior members of Asghar Khan's Tehreek-e-Istiqlal were arrested.^[132]

Governor of Sindh General Jahan Dad Khan, appointed in the martial law government of General Zia-ul-Haq, imposed a 30-day ban on Asghar Khan's entry into Sindh effective 14 October 1984. Asghar Khan had planned to start an eight-day tour of Sindh from Sukkur on 20 October 1984, and then travel to Quetta and Punjab. Consequently, he revised his itinerary to visit various cities in the North-West Frontier Province at the end of October instead.^[133]

A few days before the Death of Zia-ul-Haq, Asghar Khan joined forces with Benazir Bhutto in August 1988.^[134] Asghar Khan was the runner-up in the 1990 General Election for the National Assembly seat NA-95 (Lahore) receiving 39,585 votes, losing to Nawaz Sharif.^[135] The election results were heavily influenced by rigging, with Nawaz securing victory through the support of President Ghulam Ishaq Khan, Generals Aslam Beg, Hamid Gul, Asad Durrani, and the ISI, who worked to buy the loyalties of various politicians.^{[38][39][136][137][138]}

Throughout his reign, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto tried to have Asghar Khan, Shah Ahmad Noorani, and Sherbaz Khan Mazari assassinated.^[139]

On 23 May 1973, passengers, including Asghar Khan, who had boarded a Pakistan International Airlines flight at Quetta Airport, were instructed to disembark and identify their luggage. Consequently, one suitcase went unclaimed. Asghar Khan was informed that this procedure was implemented due to reports that a suitcase containing a bomb had been loaded onto the aircraft. The suitcase was neither opened nor inspected in the presence of passengers, and despite widespread media coverage of the incident, the government provided no explanation.^[57][140]

Once, while Asghar was traveling to Bahawalpur with Malik Wazir Khan, they were attacked by a mob after being falsely accused of theft by Bhutto's Federal Security Force. A driver was killed in the attack, but they managed to escape. Khan held a press conference about the incident, but the Chief Minister of Punjab dismissed his claims. PPP workers continued to harass Khan, by blocking roads and vandalizing his property.

A reception was arranged at the Lahore railway station for Asghar Khan who was passing through Lahore on Pakistan Day 1975. The Federal Security Force (FSF) arranged for a bomb to be planted in the train, agent Riaz was caught red handed by the police but the FSF had exerted so much pressure that he ended up getting released.^[141]

Asghar Khan wrote several books throughout his life and was the Chief Patron of the Defence Journal in Pakistan.^[142]

In July 1998, Asghar Khan was among 63 retired Pakistani (including Nur Khan and Saeedullah Khan), 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.^{[143][144][145]}

• Khan, Asghar (1969). Pakistan at the Cross Roads. Karachi: Ferozsons. OCLC 116825.
• —— (1979). The First Round, Indo-Pakistan War 1965. Sahibabad: Vikas. ISBN 0-7069-0978-X.
• —— (1983). Generals in Politics. New Delhi: Vikas. ISBN 0-7069-2215-8.
• —— (1985). The Lighter side of the Power Game. Lahore: Jang Publishers. OCLC 15107608.
• —— (2005). We've Learnt Nothing from History. Karachi: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-597883-8.
• —— (2008). My Political Struggle. Karachi: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-547620-0.
• —— (2009). Milestones in a Political Journey. Islamabad: Dost Publications. ISBN 978-9694963556.

• Khan, Asghar (1985). Sada-i-Hosh (in Urdu). Lahore: Jang Publishers. OCLC 14214332.
• —— (1998). Chehray nahi Nizam ko Badlo (in Urdu). Islamabad: Dost Publications. ISBN 978-9694960401.
• —— (1999). Islam – Jamhooriat aur Pakistan (in Urdu). Islamabad: Dost Publications. ISBN 978-9694960852.
• —— (1999). Ye Batain Hakim Logon Ki (in Urdu). Islamabad: Dost Publications. ISBN 978-9694960876.

Asghar Khan died on 5 January 2018 at CMH Rawalpindi, two weeks shy of his 97th birthday. The following day, he was given a state funeral by the Government of Pakistan and buried in his native village of Nawan Shehr.^[146]

A formation of four K-8 Karakorum's and four T-37 Tweet's from the PAF Academy presented a fly past in honour of Asghar Khan, flying the missing man formation. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, CJCSC Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Federal Ministers, several former chiefs of the Pakistan Air Force, ambassadors, diplomats, war veterans, senior civil and military officials, and a large number of people from all walks of life attended the funeral. Afterwards, the coffin was transported by a PAF helicopter to the family's native village in Abbottabad, where Asghar Khan was buried.^[147]

PTI Chairman Imran Khan shared his condolences on Twitter: "Saddened to learn of Air Chief Marshal Asghar Khan's death early this morning. He transformed the PAF and was a man of steadfast principles and integrity. My prayers and condolences go to his family."^[30]

Air Commodore Sajad Haider paid tribute to Asghar Khan, whom he regarded as "one of the greatest sons of the soil." Haider described him as an unparalleled commander-in-chief, earning the respect and admiration of all those he led through his qualities of vision, courage, integrity, honesty, and strict dedication to discipline. Further going on to recall that under his leadership, the PAF effectively responded to an Indian spy bomber that violated Pakistani airspace soon after Eidul Fitr. The early air defense system he prioritized proved effective, resulting in a young officer bringing the bomber down at 40,000 feet, far beyond the operational capability of PAF fighters, with both the Indian pilot and navigator taken into custody. Haider emphasized that the indomitable spirit instilled by Asghar Khan propelled the PAF during the 1965 war and that the air force will continue to build upon the solid foundations he laid.^[148]

Major General Asif Ghafoor said, "COAS expresses his grief on the sad demise of ex Air Chief, Air Marshal Asghar Khan, Retired. An iconic soldier who will be remembered for his historic contributions for laying foundations of a strong Pakistan Air Force. May Allah bless his soul-Ameen."^[149]

Peter A. Thatcher, a former student pilot, recalled a near-death experience in 1962 during his second solo flight at the Peshawar Flying Club. While flying at 1,000 feet, four Canberra bombers nearly collided with him, narrowly dipping below his plane. Later, as he approached the runway with zero visibility, another Canberra came close to crashing into him. Shaken but alive, Thatcher landed safely. A confrontation with an angry Air Marshal Asghar Khan followed, but his instructor, Hyder Hassan Rizvi, a retired IAF squadron leader, intervened and convinced Asghar Khan that the tower was at fault. Thatcher later met Asghar Khan at a dinner party, where they laughed about the incident. He also remembered the air marshal's stance on Pakistan's nuclear program, suggesting that the country would be safer without nukes, though acknowledging Pakistan would never give them up.^[148]

Former PAF officer Aijazuddin recalled joining the RPAF Academy in 1947/48, when Air Commodore Asghar Khan was the Commandant. In a tribute to Asghar Khan, he described him as a principled and resolute leader, noting that he embodied the qualities of a complete officer. Aijazuddin also expressed his condolences to the family.^[148]