Hakimullah Khan Durrani

Air Chief Marshal Hakimullah Khan Durrani NI(M) HI(M) SJ SI(M) SBt TBt (Urdu: حکیم اللہ خان; 15 October 1935 – 23 February 2024); best known as Hakimullah, was a four-star air officer who tenured as the 5th Chief of Air Staff of Pakistan Air Force, appointed in this post from 9 March 1988 until retiring on 8 March 1991.^[1][2]

Air Chief Marshal Hakimullah حکیم اللہ خان NI(M) HI(M) SJ SI(M) SBt TBt
Chief of Air Staff
In office 9 March 1988 – 9 March 1991
Preceded by	ACM Jamal Khan
Succeeded by	ACM Feroze Khan
Personal details
Born	Hakimullah Khan Durrani (1935-10-15)15 October 1935 Sheikh Kali, Peshawar District, Peshawar Division, North-West Frontier Province, British India (Now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan)
Died	23 February 2024 (aged 88) Islamabad, Pakistan
Citizenship	Pakistani
Nickname	Hakim
Military service
Allegiance	Pakistan
Branch/service	Pakistan Air Force
Years of service	1956–1991
Rank	Air Chief Marshal
Unit	No. 14 Squadron Tail Choppers (S/No. PAK/3756)
Commands	DCAS (Administration) Proj-Dir. Project Falcon DCAS (Air Operations)
Battles/wars	Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Awards	Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) Sitara-e-Jurat Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) Sitara-e-Basalat Tamgha-e-Basalat CCS Instructor's Sword

He completed his high school in Mardan. He was seen on 14 August 1988 in Islamabad, Pakistan, during the Independence Day parade attended by then Gen. Zia UL HAQ and speaker Ghulam Ishaq Khan piloting his F-16 fighter jet and manoeuvring the jet skillfully receiving praise during the parade because of his skills. He was born in Shielkh Kali on the Charsadda Road which is a small village between village Gulbela and popular resort Sardaryab. He had a large house estate in Shielkh Kali on the main Charsadda Road. There was a free hospital in the same house as well for the people of area.

Biography

Hakimullah Khan Durrani was born in North-West Frontier Province on 15 October 1935 into a Durrani Pashtun family.^{: 459 [2]: 44–46 [3]}

After completing his secondary school certificate from the secondary school in Mardan, he joined the Pakistan Air Force in 1954, passing out in 1957 where he gained commission as a pilot officer.^{: 546 [4]} Further training took place in the United States where Flying Officer Hakimullah qualified to fly the F-104 Starfighter and participated in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.^: 44 [5] Flight-Lieutenant Hakimullah notably intercepted the Indian Air Force's Folland Gnat flown by then-Flight lieutenant Brijpal Singh Sikand, who was forced to land near at the airstrip in Pasrur, Pakistan.^: 83 [6] This claim, however, has been contested by India.^{: 229 [6]: contents [7]} In 1971, Wing-Commander Hakimullah flew the Mirage-IIIA in the western front of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, seeing aerial actions against the MiG-21.^{: contents [8]}

On 5 May 1976, Wing Commander Hakimullah was appointed the first commanding officer of the newly established Combat Commanders' School at PAF Base Sargodha.

In 1981, Air-Commodore Hakim was appointed Project-Director of Project Falcon, overseeing the acquisition of F-16s by the air force.^: 39 [9] In 1986–87, Air Vice-Marshal Hakim served in the Air AHQ as its Chief of Staff under Chief of Air Staff.^{: 339 [10]} In 1988, Air-Mshl. Hakimullah was elevated to DCAS (Administration) and was later promoted to four-star rank.^[1] At promotion, Air Chief Marshal Hakimullah superseded^{[clarification needed]} at least one senior air officer, Air Marshal Shabbir Hussain Syed, the then-Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS).^[1]

In 1991, Air Chief Marshal Hakimullah completed his tenure and retired to settle in Islamabad.^[1]

Durrani died after a prolonged illness on 23 February 2024, at the age of 88. He was buried in his home village that same day, and his funeral was attended by air force officials, as well as local people.^[11]

Awards and decorations

PAF GD(P) Badge RED (More than 3000 Flying Hours)
Combat Commanders' School Sargodha Instructor's Sword
Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Order of Excellence)	Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Crescent of Excellence)		Sitara-e-Jurat (Star of Courage) 1971 War
Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) (Star of Excellence)	Sitara-e-Basalat (Star of Good Conduct) 1965 War	Tamgha-e-Basalat (Medal of Good Conduct)	Tamgha-e-Diffa (General Service Medal) 1. 1965 War Clasp 2. 1971 War Clasp
Sitara-e-Harb 1965 War (War Star 1965)	Sitara-e-Harb 1971 War (War Star 1971)	Tamgha-e-Jang 1965 War (War Medal 1965)	Tamgha-e-Jang 1971 War (War Medal 1971)
10 Years Service Medal	20 Years Service Medal	30 Years Service Medal	Tamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e- Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam (100th Birth Anniversary of Muhammad Ali Jinnah) 1976
Tamgha-e-Jamhuria (Republic Commemoration Medal) 1956	Hijri Tamgha (Hijri Medal) 1979	Jamhuriat Tamgha (Democracy Medal) 1988	Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha (Resolution Day Golden Jubilee Medal) 1990

See also

• PAF s' Chief of Air Staffs
• Muhammad Nasir Dar

References

1. The Story of the Pakistan Air Force 1988-1998: A Battle Against Odds (Oxford University Press, 2000)
2. The Army Quarterly and Defence Journal. West of England Press. 1988. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
3. Sehgal, Ikram ul-Majeed (2005). "The military is a much sought after career for the NWFP Pushpins" (google books). Defence Journal. 8 (8–10). Islamabad: Ikram ul-Majeed Sehgal: 150. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
4. Jane's Defence Weekly. Jane's Publishing Company. 1988. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
5. etl.all, staff writers (1984). "United States Air Force-Pakistan Air Force relations". Shaheen: Journal of the Pakistan Air Force. 31 (1–2). Air Headquarters.: 126. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
6. Mohan, P. V. S. Jagan; Chopra, Samir (2005). The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965 (1st ed.). New Delhi, India: Manohar. p. 378. ISBN 9788173046414. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
7. Singh, Mandeep (2017). Baptism Under Fire: Anti Aircraft Artillery in India Pakistan War 1965 (in Spanish). Vij Books India Pvt Ltd. ISBN 9789386457134. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
8. Lal, P. C. My Years with the IAF (1st ed.). Lancer Publishers LLC. ISBN 9781935501756. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
9. Shaheen: Journal of the Pakistan Air Force. Air Headquarters. 1984. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
10. IDSA News Review on East Asia. Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. 1990. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
11. Techie (26 February 2024). "Former Air Chief Marshal Hakimullah Khan Durrani Laid To Rest In His Hometown Sheikh Kali Village In Charsadda With Full MILITARY HONORS". PAKDEFENSE. Retrieved 9 March 2024.

Military offices
Preceded by Jamal A. Khan	Chief of Air Staff 1988–1991	Succeeded by Farooq Feroze Khan