The PIA flight, PK-805, was in the air en route to the airport in Karachi. However, the plane’s pilot had been given the instruction to land somewhere outside of Pakistan. 198 passengers, including children, were travelling aboard a PIA airbus. Additionally riding in the same aircraft as Captain Sarwat Hussain was Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf. After the PTV once broadcast the news of General Musharraf’s ouster, the Army took control of the station. Pakistan was once again on the verge of a military coup after a ten-year hiatus.
On October 12, 1999, between 6 and 8:30 p.m., what happened? This will be demonstrated by me, Faisal Warraich, in the History of Pakistan series by “Dekho, Suno, Jano.” MD PTV Yousaf Beg Mirza observed a Major directing a group of twelve soldiers into the TV station’s newsroom. The Major was directing the TV crew to stop broadcasting the news regarding General Musharraf’s ouster. The MD immediately contacted the PM House, but the Prime Minister was unavailable. Saeed Mehdi, the PM’s personnel secretary, asked the MD of PTV to follow the instructions.
that information about General Musharraf’s ouster would be broadcast on PTV. Nawaz Sharif’s son Hussain Nawaz, who was present in the PM House, described it as a coup only at the Colonel level. Hussain had faith that Ziauddin Butt, the recently appointed Army Chief, would have the issue under control. But the PTV kept making worrying calls to the PM House. The MD and the Director of News PTV were unsure which order to carry out. The MD contacted the PM House once more to inform the Prime Minister of his issue.
Hussain Nawaz instructed the MD over the phone to do as the Prime Minister House had requested. Hussain declared to the MD that he would die a martyr’s death if he followed the PM House’s recommendation. The MD made another effort to convey to him the gravity of the circumstance. The PM House, however, did not completely grasp the circumstances. The issue was addressed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Military Secretary, Brigadier Javed Iqbal. Armed with his weapon, Brigadier Javed Iqal approached the PTV structure. He discovered the Major from the 111 Brigade of the 10 Corps here. The Major was prompted to lay down his weapons by Brigadier Javed.
“Sir, I am not under your authority,” the Major said in response, refusing to follow the directive. “I am carrying out the 111 Brigade’s instructions,” At gunpoint, the Brigadier took the Major there. The 111 Brigade soldiers all held Brigadier Javed at gunpoint at the next instant. The PTV Newsroom was utterly serene, but there was a great terror there as well. The Major made the choice to avoid conflict and resistance in this situation. He therefore instructed his jawans to lower their weapons. The commandos from the Elite Force who were there gathered these weapons and locked the Jawans inside a room.
The problem had reportedly been fixed, according to the PM House. Shaista Zaid, the newscaster, was perplexed as she prepared to repeat the story regarding the departure of the Army Chief. But between 6 and 6:30 p.m., the news was replayed on PTV. The report seemed to indicate that the coup had been put down. The final season of “Game of Throne” had begun, and it was still unclear which way the cat would jump. At 6:40 p.m., MD PTV was once more informed of Musharraf’s ouster. However, at that point, two army trucks had arrived at the PTV station, and the MD had been asked to halt the broadcast. Understanding which orders were to be followed was no harder for Mr. Beg.
He did not, therefore, get in touch with the Prime Minister’s House again. Instead of “Breaking News,” English fiction series, Urdu play, and News Bulletin at 9 o’clock in the evening… On the PTV, which in the past never skipped the scheduled news bulletin at nine, only national music were played. The entire nation was in a state of bewilderment because nobody knew what was going on. The populace was curious as to who was in charge. Questions about whether India had attacked or the government had been ousted developed as a result of national anthems. Also providing no information about the situation was Radio Pakistan.
As a result, listeners to BBC Radio tuned in to learn more. Nawaz Sharif and his group were aware that Musharraf’s army unit had intervened by that point. They made the decision to prevent Musharraf from getting to his “core team” in order to prevent a military takeover. General Usmani, the Corps Commander in Karachi, had previously been instructed to provide General Musharraf… full formality upon his arrival. That directive was recalled by Nawaz Sharif. General Usmani had another crucial call before the Nawaz Sharif government could inform him. Gen. Aziz Khan, the chief of the general staff and a personal friend of Musharraf, had made the call.
Usmani. General Usmani was questioned by General Aziz about what to do in the predicament. Gen. Usmani questioned Gen. Aziz over any directives General Musharraf may have given him prior to his international trip. Gen. Aziz affirmed, “Yes, he gave me without a doubt before the departure.” “In order that orders must be followed.” General Muzaffar Usmani, the Corps Commander for Karachi, responded. General Muzaffar Usmani travelled to the airport in Karachi. He had been trying to reach the PM House for a long time when he got a call from them in the interim.
Brigadier Javed Iqbal, the PM’s military secretary, called. He requested that Musharraf be detained at the Army House and that Gen. Usmani not provide him protocol upon arrival. Gen. Mehmood, Corps Commander Rawalpindi and a close buddy of Musharraf, then called Gen. Usmani. He inquired as to what has been done thus far. Nothing, General Usmani retorted. After arriving at the airport, General Usmani obviously needed to take action. Gen. Usmani’s succinct response was sufficient for Gen. Mehmood. Gens. Mehmood, Aziz Khan, and Shahid Aziz were now confident in Gen.
Aziz was present. Later, these generals took action to seize control of Rawalpindi’s PTV and other significant structures. Gen. Usmani’s assistance for them made this move possible. Gen. Usmani had to meet General Musharrat at the airport because of this. Gen. Usmani’s contribution was crucial at that time in order to tip the scales in favour of either side. Gen. Usmani was the only person who could transport General Musharraf to the Army House in strictest secrecy. Musharraf might be held at the Army House if he is treated as a retired Army Colonel. In contrast, he chose to follow General Musharraf’s protocol. Gen. Usmani unexpectedly rose to prominence during a trying period in our history.
The three most significant phone calls of his life had already occurred, and it was his turn to call. In the Malir Garrison, Gen. Umsani called Gen. Malik Iftikhar. To take over the Air Traffic Control, he gave Gen. Malik the order to march his men to the airport. because the airport’s air traffic control room would be the next battleground. The generals and the Prime Minister’s staff were likely to argue over Musharraf’s arrival in Karachi. Additionally, the PM House assigned two significant individuals to take over the Air Traffic Control. Aminullah Ch, Director of Civil Aviation, and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chairman of PIA, were the two individuals.
They were both told to prevent Musharraf’s plane from landing anywhere in the nation. Muscat should receive a diverted flight. In the absence of Pervez Rashid, Shehbaz Sharif, and Ch Nisar Ali Khan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif issued this directive. The only people Nawaz Sharif had with him at the time were his son Hussain Nawaz and his close friend Saifur Rehman. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi was asked by PM Nawaz Sharif to activate the Sindh police as well. IG Polic Sindh and the airport workers were in action at Karachi Airport. Three fire extinguisher engines were parked, blocking the runway. It was about 6:30 o’clock.
The PK-805 flight’s pilot was then informed that his aircraft could not land anywhere in the nation. To reroute the aircraft to Muscat or Dubai, he was instructed. For the pilot, it was unbelievable. 198 people were on board, including Pervez Musharraf, his wife, and numerous children. There was barely enough gasoline for the plane to fly for another 20 minutes. The pilot informed the control tower that there was not enough fuel for the aircraft to make it to Muscat. The Prime Minister was informed by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi that the plane could not make it to Muscat.
The PM instructed Abbasi to make a landing at the adjacent airfield of Nawabshah so that the flight to Mascat could be refuelled. The flight’s pilot, Sarwat Hussain, received the PM message from Shahid Khaqab Abbasi. Captain Sarwat diverted the aircraft to Nawabshah as directed. The pilot was properly trained to handle this kind of nerve-wracking situation, yet it still made him anxious. However, this instruction had been given because the pilot had detected a peculiar situation on the ground. General Pervez Musharraf being on board the aircraft was the sole cause. A General Musharraf buddy was summoned to the cockpit by the captain.
General Musharraf’s confidant Brigadier Nadeem Taj arrived. The pilot briefed him on the entire scenario. He was questioned by Brigadier Taj about his alternatives to flying into Nawabshah. The pilot claimed that the only destinations the aircraft could reach were Rahim Yar Khan, Bandar Abbas in Iran, or Ahmadabad in India. Brigadier Taj decided against setting down in India. General Musharraf visited the pilot after being informed of the situation by Nadeem Taj. General Musharraf detailed what transpired after in his book, “In the Line of Fire.”
According to Musharraf’s writing, he also decided against travelling to India, adding, “Over my dead-body.” Brigadier Taj attempted to make touch with anyone on the ground in the interim but was unsuccessful. They could only communicate with the Control Tower using the Special Communication System of the plan. Fortunately, General Usmani had sent General Iftikhar Malik to the Air Control Tower. The Control Tower had been taken over by General Malik. He gave the Tower’s in-charge the go-ahead to get in touch with General Pervez Musharraf right away. However, the Tower’s in-charge had previously been told to steer clear of anything unrelated to the flight.
The In-charger was apprehensive to speak with General Musharraf as a result. General Iftikhar kidnapped him at gunpoint, ending his hesitation. Then the communication system turned on. General Iftikhar and General Musharraf were currently speaking on the plane. General Ziauddin’s nomination as the next Army Chief and General Musharraf’s retirement were both announced to him. Gen. Iftikhar was requested to name his dogs in order to verify Gen. Musharraf’s account of the conversation. They are Dot and Buddy, General Iftikhar retorted immediately. After settling down, General Musharraf inquired about General Usmani. Informing Gen.
Gen. Usmani was at the airport, and Musharraf was informed that you could safely land in Karachi. General Iftikhar was given the task of making sure no one could leave the nation by General Musharraf. Captain Sarwat Hussain was instructed to land the plane at Karachi Airport by General Musharraf. From Nawabshah, the captain changed course for Karachi. The runway no longer had the three fire extinguisher engines. At Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, the aircraft touched down without incident. There was only enough gasoline in the aircraft for a 420-second flight at that time (7:47 p.m.).
Gen. Musharraf waited patiently before exiting the aircraft. He was met by Gen. Usmani and his forces. General Musharraf had no idea what the military officers who had come to meet him were hoping to accomplish. since he was technically a retired army chief. He asked Gen. Usmani a question, to which the general responded, “Sir, I have been ordered to arrest you.” It caused General Musharraf to worry. But he noticed that the car that had arrived to meet him was flying the flag of the Army Chief. Even if not dejuro, General Musharraf was still the Army Chief.
General Usmani and General Musharraf grinned at each other as they drove to the 5-Corps headquarters. Gen. Usmani carried out the coup successfully in Karachi while the 111-Brigade carried it out in Rawalpindi. The same Brigade’s Col. Shahid Ali Khan went to the PM House to secure it as part of his responsibility. Before Col. Shahid arrived, a Major had prohibited public access to the PM House. When Col. Shahid arrived with his forces to the PM House, the guards there made an effort to prevent him from entering. But in front of so many armed soldiers, the Guards gave up.
Col. Shahid gave the order to temporarily imprison the Guards. Col. Shahid walked into the PM Building. Gen. Ziauddin Butt, the new head of the army, and Gen. Akram, the chief of the general staff, were on the porch of the house. There were also additional security officers and Elite Force commandos. When Gen. Akram observed Col. Shahid performing all of these tasks, he wished for him to respect the PM House’s sacredness. “Sir, I have orders from my commander and you may talk to him,” Col. Shahid retorted. Brigadier Sallahuddin Satti of the 111 Brigade oversaw Col. Chahid while General
Mahmud gave Satti orders. Col. Shahid phoned Brig. Satti before connecting General Akram with Brig. Satti. Brig Satti was introduced to Gen. Akram as Chief of the General Staff. The Army Chief won’t be reviewing the parade tomorrow, but he will receive the guard of honour. Upon hearing this, Brig Satti responded, “Yes, Sir.” When Brig. Satti told Gen. Mehmud what Gen. Akram had said, Gen. Mehmud responded, “Ask him… ignore it.” Gen. Mahmud’s comments were unable to reach Gen. Akram. Gen. Ziauddin Butt, however, continued to be engaged in phone conversations during that period. Gen. Musharraf claimed that Gen. Akram was meeting people and giving commands to the officers.
A reinforcement of 25 soldiers from the 111 Brigade arrived at the PM House in the interim. Col. Shahid commanded them to deploy and prepare for battle. Two commandos who had been assigned to the PM protection have now joined Col. Shahid and given up their weapons. Gen. Ziauddin’s guards followed suit by laying down their weapons and stepping aside. Col. Shahid seized Gen. Ziauddin Butt’s phone when the tables were turned on him. Gen. Butt and Gen. Akram were told to enter the PM House by Col. Shahid. because Brig. Satti’s order had resulted in their all being brought into custody. Ziauddin General and Gen.
walked inside the PM House’s private chamber, which was also tense. Brig. Javed Iqbal, the PM’s military secretary, was in the room. Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister, was joined by Shehbaz Sharif, Hassan Nawaz, and Saifur Rehman. Ch Nisar Ali Khan departed the PM House as the scenario was developing. After some time, 25 soldiers including Gen. Mehmood and Vice Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Orakzia arrived. Shehbaz Sharif told them not to go into the prime minister’s private space as soon as he noticed them. Gen.
Mehmood addressed the PM, “Sir, what have you done?” while ordering the Jawans to remain outside. Nawaz Sharif said that all he did was legal and within his rights under the Constitution. “Now they will realise what the law and the Constitution are,” Gen. Mahmood retorted. But I’d always preferred not to live to see this day. By eight o’clock, the military coup had been successfully carried out. Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif were then driven to 10-Corps by General Mahmood and General Orakzia in a Mercedes. In a chamber, Nawaz Sharif was held captive. Gen. Mahmood and Gen. Orakzia visited Nawaz Sharif late at night and requested that he dissolve the legislatures.
Over my deadoby, Nawaz Sharif said as he declined to sign the summary for the dissolution of the assemblies. On it, they warned Nawaz Sharif that they would get revenge. Since there were just these 3 people present, it was difficult to verify the conversation’s validity. Even if the coup had been successful, a dinner was still scheduled. Nawaz Sharif’s replacement for Farooq Leghari, President Rafiq Tarar, has planned a luncheon in honour of Governor Mamnoon Hussain of Sindh. The meal was scheduled for exactly the evening of October 12, 1990.
As the Army had taken over, Mamnoon Hussain called President Tarar to ask about the meal. Yes, it will be, the President retorted. Dinner was therefore served. The army generals, who were described by their own institution as impatient and hasty, now possessed complete authority. The rulers were imprisoned, and the one who had been sacked quickly rose to power. The military coup in Pakistan was where the entire mess of the Kargil war had ended. India had commissioned a Commission under the direction of a security expert to investigate the Kargil incident.
The Commission’s report was made public for the most part. As a result, numerous senior Indian military officers were demoted. However, Pakistan has never had a similar investigation into the Kargil problem. Rather, documentation of the Kargil War either vanished or was sealed. No one was ever held accountable for this disaster, and no official investigation report was ever made public in Pakistan. Pakistan was about to start a new era, century, and millennium. The second Afghan War, 9/11, and the exodus of the heads of two vicious political groups occurred during this new phase.
In this time, two new political parties also emerged. In the upcoming episode of The History of Pakistan, we will demonstrate all of this in greater detail. Why is Pakistan like that? Read these books, articles, and newspapers by domestic and international authors to learn more if you’re interested. Yes, you should also watch the interviews with historical figures. And if you don’t have time for all of that, just contact us. To learn how China rose to power, you can click here or read a number of books and articles. Contact Us