I have known the general for the last 18 years or so and have insights on how he proceeded in various capacities. I believe people generally know how superbly he performed as CGS and later as Corps Comd Lahore and then as Chairman NAB after retirement. The war against India was won even before it was could have started due to brilliant deployment of forces; such superior was the strategy chalked out by Gen Shahid and his team which included the present COAS Gen Kayani who was then DGMO. His cleansing of DHA Lahore of corrupt practices was also a rare feat in years. His performance as Chairman NAB and later graceful exit was also greatly admired in the times when everyone else surrounding Gen Musharraf was vying for lucrative posts and most incumbents, beneficiaries of Musharraf, were playing ingrate double games.

I admire the general for his honesty, faith, and courage. And I am a person whom he once bluntly snubbed for asking a naïve personal favor, the only one I ever asked him, when he was a three star general and our acquaintance was 12 year old. He inspired these qualities as our brigade commander in Okara. His honesty is manifest and well-known in his administrative actions over his entire career. I have an episode to share that avouches for his other two qualities too.

In 1992 rains, a river on the line of control was flooded to unprecedented levels. We had a border post that protruded out and was located right in the middle of that river over remains of a demolished bridge. In the face of a natural calamity, the enemy thought it was time to get even in a sector where it was always beaten; it started firing on that post and its vicinity amid heavy rain. After some time contact with the post was lost and no one was sure about the safety of our soldiers as there was no communication, visual or wireless, for a day or so. This post was under then Lt. Col Shahid’s command. Quickly he realized that a rescue operation had to be launched, which would actually be a very risky affair, if not Mission Impossible. He surprised everyone by volunteering to jump into the river himself and attempt reaching out to the troops.

We all knew, and he knew even better, at that time that he was a sure future general. What he was attempting to do was life-threatening—there was risk of being smashed against the bridge by the fast current of water, or being killed by very heavy enemy firing. This threat became clear when his second in command was hit by a bullet in his chest and martyred the moment he had seen off Col Shahid into the water. Col Shahid survived and accomplished his mission over the next day.

His dare-devil action powered by his unflinching faith and courage inspired all of us for the remaining time in that sector, and indeed for the rest of our lives. No corrupt person can ever imagine offering such supreme sacrifice especially when the future looks so great.

The other day general was a guest speaker in my MBA class at G.C. Lahore. His session got the unanimous endorsement as a best-ever activity they had attended at least in my Leadership course. I hope he continues to come out of his retreat and inspire the young people with his shining past, and vast knowledge and experience.

Making the general a target by the insecure powers that be is ironic, futile, and despicable. Whoever is doing that would in fact expose himself. We need leaders of his inspiring character and it would be someone just like him who would some day rise and save Pakistan from the “sharks” (I hope and pray).

I retired about 28 years ago from the Baluch regiment; Lt. Gen (r) Shahid Aziz was then a young major in the same unit, which was deployed generally on internal security (IS) duties so we were mostly deployed in Karachi city or interior of Sindh taking care of the law and order situation. In normal peace times, the army units have three to four training cycles, lasting three/ four months each, but this was not possible in those disturbed political times.

One fine day we were ordered to return to Malir for a presentation on normal training activities to the then President and COAS General Zia-ul-Haq. The preliminary discussions and meeting on how to conduct the whole fake procedure, were underway when Maj Shahid Aziz objected to this altogether, saying that “this is not right, when we are not carrying out this type of training these days why should we show this mock training.Since this was an order from the higher authorities we had to go through with it. Different officers were deputed to show the different portions of what is called “cycle of training”. Maj Shahid Aziz was one of them. As I stated earlier the unit was not carrying out normal training at that time and was ordered to put up this mock/dummy training cycle, just to show the President who was accompanied with internal and external media. As the chief approached the officers to ask the details of the training they stated as to how it was carried out, when Gen Zia approached Maj Shahid Aziz and questioned him that it seems that the Sepoys are not well conversed with the training, he replied with great honesty, ” No sir, we have just been ordered to do it, we have not been carrying out normal training, this is just a fake show, the soldiers are not at fault.” this was a good exhibition of character, as is expected from an officer or soldier of any good armed forces.

Once again by resigning as Chairman of NAB he has exhibited good character. In spite of my belief that retired generals and soldiers should not bring themselves into media limelight, instead should follow Gen Macarthur who said ” old soldiers do not die, just fade away’.
No one is perfect, no one is without fault,but I must confess that even in these trying times; Gen Shahid Aziz is a good example of a good soldier and a good Pakistani.

Sajid Salim

let the truth come out

wish you well