Statement of PA-6910 CAPT Farook Adam Khan, Sitara e Jurat Given at the Court Martial at ATTOCK FORT

WITHOUT COMMENTS Copy of  The Statement of PA-6910 CAPT Farook Adam Khan, Sitara e Jurat Given at the Court Martial  at  ATTOCK FORT   I find it very difficult to decide where to begin, however, I do find an extremely strange co-incidence in the fact that today is 12 Sep 1973. I was awarded Sitare Jurat for an action which took place exactly this very date on 12 Sep 1965. But that is all very well, and much water has flowed between then and now, and I am now constrained to say things in my defense that have to be in answer to a coterie of prosecution witness. Apparently the prosecution story starts from major Saleem Asghar, who in turn starts it from 18 June 1972, when i was supposed to have become outstandingly vocal in my criticism of the Army Leadership and the government. However Major Saleem Asghar did have the grace to correct himself when he admitted that 18 June was a meaning less date, and this attitude of mine had started in Dec 71 along with the other officers in the Battalion. He also admitted that it was not me who gave my version or opinion to others but these sentiments were expressed during general discussions in which he had held the same opinion as those attributed to me. What were these topic of discussions, and what sentiments were expressed may be relevant. I wish to speak this very briefly, for if any one says that he has learnt or heard any thing from me in private which was not meant to be heard in public, for all the world to hear, let me tell you that he is lying. I wonder if I need to describe the shock we all received on surrender of East Pakistan. I wonder again, if it is all necessary to describe the bitter taste that was left when the cease fire in the west was declared. Can I presume that you all would have felt the same, for you were all serving in the same Army, and had the same feelings for it, if not more. It is therefore, unnecessary to refer again to the weeping officers , I need not touch upon those two days when no officers in the unit were seen amongst the troops. I need not also mention the times i could not face my men and look them in their eyes because they invariably averted their eyes from mine;l and you all of course, would have also felt the same. Humiliation when drove on your home and were occasionally jeered at by civilians; and there is no need to mention some of these elite officers who removed star plates and formation flags when travelling to the cantonments for fear of identifying themselves with a statue and rank. All these facts are known.You know them. I know them. We all here know them for they left an indelible mark on us all. On some much much more than others. And I presume that you all know who were being generally blamed besides the politicians and the then regime. And I say openly to you all now sitting in judgement over me. Did you know that during those days all who bore red tapes on their collars were looked down upon. And was not the whole sordid episode of 1971 being discussed in each and every mess and langar? If many preferred to ignore this , or attempted to suppress it by letters and circulars then, yet again those responsible did not gauge the mood of the younger officers in the aftermath of that nightmarish Dec for fortnight.  It pains me to say that Corps of Generals in the Army figured very prominently in these discussions and invariably to their detriment. I am reminded of the time one senior officer remarked after one such session that there needs to be a " Society for the prevention of cruelty to Generals," so apt but so pathetic.  On second thought i shall spare myself the sheer frustration i will feel if i, once again narrate all the ills in the Army that I have had so much to say about, as this does not seem to be the place or the time or the occasion to do so. Suffice to say that I spoke and spoke with my heart and from my own experience, because I felt deeply for the Army. I have lived all my life in the shadow of military uniform and have always lived it deeply. It has been love that has lasted till 30th Mar 1973, when for the first time i truly realized what a fools world I had been living in and whatever depths the Army hierarchy had fallen during these past few years. That I shall touch upon later. One of the aftermath of 71 war was the lack of confidence in leadership, while I am reluctant to believe in total depravity of the corps of senior officers, it is a sad fact that the young officers place very little, if any, dependance on their honesty, truthfulness and competence. The majority of officers whom i have know personally or have heard about are petty minded mentally weak and wholly unfit. many are vulgar demagogues and past masters in the art of deceit, corruption, nepotism and narrow parochialism. The rest are men of narrow intellect, limited comprehension and even lesser professional ability. It is only the exception among them who deserves to be called a soldier. The vast majority of officers advance in rank only as they appease, bribe, seduce deceive or openly stoop down to lowest depths of immorality in order to manipulate their promotions, postings and appointments. If their daily transactions their decisive consideration has always been not whether their actions or decision are good for the comments but whether their actions or decisions are good for the command but whether they are popular with their seniors, particularly those who can influence their careers. I say these things because I can and am able to give you positive examples to substantiate each word that I have said here and have often spoken in the past for I can blame my own youthful inability to keep my mouth shut, but this prompts me to ask a question from myself; we, as the officer corps have been dabbed as patriots far more frequently than we have been called traitors. The question arises, can patriots, those steadfast defenders of the country against enemies in the field of battle, be still called patriots when in time of peace, they sit treacherously irresolute and quiescent before those equally dangerous foes that lurk in the shadow of all worse such as foes as greed, selfishness, short sightedness, blatant corruption and the sheer stupidity and cowardliness of backyard chair borne commanders. I do not normally sit in judgement on a man's morals or his taste, but till the day I die, I will sit in judgment on  a man's qualifications to wear same uniform that i wear, and that is as it should be.  And all this is answer to Salim Asghar and to a very honorable member of the court  who quoted an ARI to the effect that it was an offense to criticise senior officers. I am afraid i did express my opinions openly, without pulling any punches and without being sly or clandestine about it. I believe rightly or wrongly, that a man says what he must in spite of dangers or retribution and that, in my opinion is the basis of human morality. I have used words here that are far stronger that the ones I used prior to Marc 1973, but i use them now only to repeat what I said earlier, that NO ONE has heard words from me in private which all the world was not allowed to hear from me . If during these discussions sentiments were expressed that may have been objectionable, no ulterior motive over lay behind them. However, one must consider in what context such discussions took place. The vast bulk of criticism was directed at that way the army led during 71 War. Then in the initial stages the hopes and dreams we had about the army leadership that would not have surely learnt its lessons and would take drastic measures to eradicate what to us was so apparent. But lo and behold we were now told that we lost war because East Pakistani was a traitor, we were out numbered, the Russians had threatened, the Seventh Fleet had betrayed us, the junior leadership lacked dedication, the Jawans were not trained, patrolling was poor, field craft was faulty, siting of weapons wrong and so on and on, till now ultimates of ultimates" The planning was brilliant out in the execution the lower down we went in the chain of command the worst was the performance" so now we have a particular situation according to the esteemed senior officers the Junior echelons are terrible. Where are we in the lower strata -----? Well, we were not happy. But that was not the vital issue. The issue was, especially when enough breathing space was given what was done to ensure that this arm,y could now be converted into a fighting force from the rag tag militia that it was officered by the people that it did have and led by those that still do. Answer, Nothing. There was and being felt at the level that matters; those who do the actual fighting and the killing and very often, the dying. I remember one interrogator here at Attock who during the later stages of investigation of investigation remarked, while we were alone, that we the accused, had been sacrificed, which was a great pity, but this sacrifice would not go in vain. In his opinion the state of affairs in the army was bound to improve as a result of this affair. He was a Lt Col and the conversation took place in the middle of May, and it seems to me you have you have yet another disappointed officer on your hands. He however, will never speak. For him it shall always be others who will speak, if they dare and be destroyed. If in that process he can benefit he shall be pleased and will be thankful. That is the real sum character of your good officers, and the prudent have analysed the whole situation accurately. It is only among the younger lot that you will still find some who will tell you true unadulterated facts of life if you give them a chance; but i am afraid this sordid affair will dry up this source of information also. That was so painfully apparent when the prosecution paraded out letters before this court as our accusers in the garb of patriots. I do solemnly swear i would not exchange place for an single one of the witnesses that have come here. I would rather die having spoken in my manner than speak in their manner and live. Often in battle there can be no doubt that if a man throws away his arms and falls on his knees to beg before his enemies, he may escape death and in other difficult situations there are other ways of escaping harm___ and that is when a man is willing to say and do anything. All of us have already been condemned and destroyed as officers, but our accusers too have been condemned by the truth to suffer the penalty for sheer villainy and wrong. We all must abide with our reward, let them abide by theirs. I suppose that these things have been in our fate, and I think they are well written. Coming back to Salim Asghar and his allegations I wish to say at the outset, and with greatest vehemence at my command, that what Maj Salim Asghar had to say here has not been invented in my mind independently. When you talk about strange coincidence in this case, what could be stranger than the date, what he has selected on which I am supposed to have proposed to him to join me in an organisation to overthrow the government. On 21st Aug 72 is the date on which the GHQ letter about the retirement of Brig F. B. Ali and Col Aleem Afridi were issued. It is about a week after the retirement orders of those involved in the 6 Armed Affair. I simply cannot believe that the selection of this date can be coincidence. It fits into the plot. I had gone to great lengths proving our separate relationship in the unit at that time, and tried highlighting the sheer unavailability of these fantastic allegations. I really do not want to put across my argument at this stage but i still think it fair that i bring some points out in the open.  According to Major Salim Asghar these are four conspirators in one unit, and all are friends. However, he says, Capt Farook Adam Khan being the common dominator no two others ever mentioned any "Coup" or "organisation" in each others presence i have no comments to offer During the time Major Salim Asghar had served in the unit it is public knowledge that he invariably carried all gossip and criticism to his uncle, Gen Majid malik who normally mentioned these points to us. In addition Major Salim Asghar was and probably is, a very staunch defender of the good name and professional reputation of his uncle. Inspite of his request to be a competent prosecuted witness, he has the grace to admit that I had on a number of occasions, to my shame, asked him to check up about my posting to Jordan___ the latest query being as late as Jan 73. I wonder if I have to leave it to the court to draw its conclusions from this. Can there be any conspirational group in existence when the alleged "Rasputin" among them was seriously trying to get through a posting abroad? Brig Wajid Ali Shah was a frequent visitor to our unit, and had stayed for a number of meals informally with us, and we were out_ spoken enough to discuss matters of a professional nature freely and frankly with him. I never did, and need never have pre arranged any single lunch to get his "views". This is crude distortion of the truth. I am amazed at the embellishment attached to my request to him to pass a message to Maj Shahid Attaullah in Sialkot to take me to Jhelum also, in case Shahid was coming to Lahore to pick up his wife before leaving. In fact, it was major Saleem Asghar who lefty the message with duty clerk who had passed it in the form it was done ultimately. Major Satti and myself are good friends, we have talked of many things on many times, but i never did take him aside, asked my friend Maj Salim Asghar to act as witness, and then pop up the question of the day. That is nonsense.   And as he finished his testimony, Maj Asghar finally added insult to injury he called himself a friend of mine. In Sep I was to go and spend a week end with my brother in Jehlum. Capt Sarwar did know about this but I had not told him to invite or to inform. Lt Col S.A. Durrani himself admitted as much when being personally cross examined by Capt Sarwar. Apparently it was difficult to deny this when personally confronted. It pained me when he gave a totally contrary answer to a court question when asked to reexamine the incident in "hindsight." It pained me because it was so untrue and because I had held this officer in much high regard for such a long time. I had not invited Col Afridi and did not know where he was even staying at that time. As it often happened we were in the club, where Maj Saeed Akhtar Malik also joined us. The four of us stayed in the club drinking for a good three and a half hours, before we went to Major Farooq Nawaz Janjuas' house. Capt Sarwar had told me that Lt Col Durrani may also drop in so we left message for him and told one of the Chowkidars to guide him if necessary. By the time we arrived at Farooq'a house we were already criticizing bitterly and fairly loudly and bitterly. If that amounted to conspiracy we should well have been arrested in the Club where adequate number of witnesses were available. By the time Durrani arrived we were fairly heated discussion. Col Afridi had dropped in Iftikhar's place while we were sitting in Farook's house. He had then been called over to join us for dinner___ which was one reason for dinner being so late. Where as it was meant for three. There turned up 7. What was said in the gathering? In the Summary of Evidence (S of E) Lt Col Durrani picked out the most dangerous sounding portions and narrated them in S Of E, but still could not satisfy the prosecution you can yourselves decide whether even these amounted to any subversion or conspiratorial  talk. t is a pity that he has tried to be more incriminating by the time Lt Col Durrani and Naser joined us. It was already about 2200 hours and for the next two hours we saw visions and imagined all that could have done for the Army, a defeated army, a miserably led, dejected and bitter army, but an army we all loved, and in which we all loved and in which our fathers had served with honor, and in turn being honoured.  They say that " our old man shall dream dreams__ and your young man shall see visions, where there is no vision people shall perish". Well, we visualized what could be done, and what could be possible___ papers could have been written and forwarded, we had said ' Interviews could have been sought, the President could have been formally approached, we could rise in revolt against the Generals and present a 'fait accompli" to the president, we could have all resigned in masse and so on and on and on. As Durrani admitted at one time, these were all hallucinations of people who were talking in the spirit of " If I were in Powere"___I do not deny that the word 'coup' may have been uttered either in the context of various historical examples being quoted as admitted by Durrani in the S of E, or as one of the many hypocritical solutions and advanced in a heated academic Discussion.  A Coup-de-atet was NEVER discussed as practical or desirable course of action.    If this discussion and cribbing session as you may call it was improper that was all it was. It was a conspiracy, or even an attempted conspiracy, then or at any subsequent date, It was in short a new generation of young Pakistan Officers who were speaking about all the evil and the filth that over added a 'nevertheless' cherished society in uniform. And if all this that we have undergone since 30 Mar 73 has been because we have been unable to prevent our tongues wagging in the past, then let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike that this new generation of young Pakistani officers who have not tasted degradation of slavery, who have been tempered by war, and are still proud of their heritage , Have finally spoken and will not be bowed down any more by the malignant, the corrupt, and the tyrannical. If this type of talk was wrong. Then doing wrong is not always evil and dishonourable. Lt Col Nisar with due apologies to him and his rank, has been never known for his mental capabilities since the days he was my senior in the school. A discussion on the lines just outlined would inflict the severest of head aches upon him if he had tried to pay attention. A fact that for the bulk of the two hours that the discussion lasted he has admitted that he was either out of room or was not paying attention, would perhaps underline the reasons why he picked out odd utterances here and there added generally from his own imagination and linked them incoherently instead to convey  a wholly false and malicious meaning. I would hate to accuse him of doing this intentionally. I still wish to believe at this stage also, that he knew not what he was doing.  Sep passed and so did Oct, with us in the field, coming under odd week ends to Lahore. I did meet Major Shahid Attaullah by chance, as he stated, and had invited him home. The next day I was swamped by many gallant friends of mine now sitting here, as they had come to Lahore for the specific purpose of having jolly good time in the shortest while possible. We alleged conspirators, I am afraid, were far more ---?, in Maj Farooq Ehsan's attempt to uphold the good name of the army against the onslaught of three partially tipsy and one totally drunk officer. I had received to attend Maj Farooq Nawaz's wedding. Not having reliable transport, and wishing to take my wife along so as to spend the week end with iftikhar. I rang up Maj Shahid Attaullah in Sialkot. His wife was in Lahore. I wanted to convey to him that if he was going to come to lahore to pick up his wife before going to Jehlum, then I would also like to go along with them. The feeble and despicable attempt of converting taht telephone message and linking it with some 'selling of car' to attach a devious motive to it has been the brain wave of Maj Saleem and some others in the period between recording of S of E and the trail here. We did attend the wedding in Jhelum, which we left around 2300 hours so as to get back to Lahore. I did go to Iftikhar's house to say good bye to him and his wife. The account given by Maj Shahid Attaullah of what happened is incorrect. LT Col Hamdani and Capt Sarwar were not there. When Shahid was giving his statement of S of E, Lt Col Yousaf the officer recording the S of E had asked him if he recognized any other of the two or three officers who said were present in Jhelum. Maj Shahid had looked around and had specifically said that he had not recognized any one else. This fact was not recorded as Lt Col Yousaf said it was irrelevant. We were all dumb founded when Shahid turned around and pointed out these two officers in the trail here. Are we to believe that two weeks of solitary confinement here at Attock was enough inducement for him? We sat and talked. That led others to talk. It seemed to be quite the natural thing to do. Those who know Maj Shahid could tell you that he is not the type who would keep quiet in such a general discussion. Many views were expressed while Iftikhar tried arranging some food and bedding for his unexpected guests __ for the visitors were not expected.  There was no proposal for any "coup' and neither was there any need for Shahid or any one else to feel 'seduced' for no attempt to do so was made by anyone and no question of doing so arose because it was a casual discussion of a general nature. Having himself being a vocal critic Shahid found himself here at Attock and appears to have toed the line of the prosecution to earn his release. My friends in the prosecution don't have anything to say about me during the period Dec 18_ Mar 73. I wonder because it was Dec saw me as a defending officer in FGCM_ surprising as it may sound now, Jan saw me running a Div Battle School, where as in Feb and early Mar I was on P/Leave which I spent in Jhang trying to sort out my Land problems. I did not meet Brig F.B. Ali and Col Aleem in Gandasingh wala. I met Col Aleem two or three times in Lahore when I came on the long weekend here. These were social calls along with families I had gone a couple of times to Abbottabad and on these occasions I did normally make it a habit to visit my friends in the PMA Kakul. On one of these visits i went to Kakul with the purpose of seeing Lt Col Shakur Jan, and asking him to inquire about my posting to Jordan. He was not at home. I had then went to the mess and asked for him. It was there I met Maj Aminullah, from whom I asked about the where abouts of Lt Col Shahkur Jan.He said he was on leave. I left after a while but remembered that Maj Salim Akhtar was in the Mess whom I wanted to see. I was not hoping to meet Maj Aminullah again which he admits and only offered him a lift to his house. According to him it was he who invited me for a cup of coffee at the cafe, where we did go. I mad e no effort to try to see my other friend in the PMA, Maj Salim Asghar. I here by apologize to my friends opposite, for having deprived them of some evidence because of this over sight on my part. The discussion again in the Cafe commenced from innocent topics but drifted on to the general state of affairs in the Army and the country. In fact it was Maj Aminullah who provoked me by saying flattering things about the President, and blaming his stalwart henchman for most of the ills in the country, he himself admitted that I mad him no offer to join any organisation for the simple reason there was no ORGANISATION TO JOIN. Brilliant young officers thinking of doing something to improve the state of affairs in the Army did not mean any use of force. That leaves me to remark upon the attitude of Maj Aminullah here. I did not believe that he made any report at any time as there was nothing to report about. However, I am also reluctant to believe that his staff course in Australia has been too much of temptation. But what am I to believe after all? May I condone his actions considering that pointed efforts that were made by the special Branch in keeping a tag on what he had to say here in court. I am reminded of the time the intelligence representative pointedly came up and sat near the prosecution table. I am also referring to the chit that was placed in the manuscript of S of E in which open threats were hinted at.  What Col Tariq Rafi has to say about the alleged meetings during Mar is simply diabolic. Inspite of this angelic face countenance he has been then most deviously motivated individual that has come here. Among others I wish particularly to deny the following allegations. The list of some officers that he has shown in the court was not compiled for the purpose for which he has alleged here, and was not compiled on the date, time, and place he has mentioned. The forgery in the exhibit brought to the notice of the court is ample proof of that. This paper contains some jottings which I had done once in Rawalpindi at his instigation to the purpose of calculating number of concerned and critical officers which were friends of mine. It was neither a list of officers involved in any org nor was it to be given to him as is apparent from the many nicknames and initials used. It is also incorrect that I gave him any explanation or additional information on this subject as he now claims. At no time were any photographs or sketch of any presidency seen by me, and neither was any mention of the above ever made in my presence. At no time I have ever agreed to any 'coup' take over any government proposed by anyone. That is totally in correct.   Whenever I have seen Major Rana in 1973 never did he mention anything remotely connected with any existing conspiracy and neither have I said anything which could be considered subversive. He had never mentioned his meeting and talk with Iftikhar Adam. I find it extremely difficult to believe any such conversation, as alleged by Maj Rana, could have taken place knowing the natural reticence of Iftikhar Adam and his total disinclination to talk. This was known commonly amongst his friends. I found it amusing to have received Rugby jokes Book from him at the end of testimony here. I wonder if it was his way of eating his conscience. Then it was 30 March 73. I suppose everyone has a certain code by which one conducts himself in life. It is derived from many things among them may be family background, schooling, the society one moves around and literature one reads. I always believed in a certain code and have cherished such ideals as gallantry, chivalry, honour, respect and an undying belief in human dignity; But where were all these things that morning?   Can you drag an officer in pajama out of his house? Can you push him prod him barefoot in a vehicle? Can you handcuff and chain him like dogs in front of his watching women folk after he assures you he has no intention to resist? Can you throw him in a vehicle and chain him to the boards? And can you do all that under the provision pf the AR(I) which is now being quoted at us? Even if you do I hope to GOD that none of you also someday placed in the same position and hear your children screaming, and see the shock and horror in your eyes as you are dragged away bare foot and in chains; And then I hope, the meaning of the spirit of the rules laid down in the AR(I) will be clearer; But i shall tell you all about it. I shall tell you because you must know, and you must know because you are part of the same society of officers that I was part of. You must know exactly what was done.You must know that the precedent has been set for all those that still wear this once proud uniform. Can you all see a field officer in uniform locked up in a unit quarter guard?  Can you all see him and visualize the sentry outside who was weeping ashamedly? Can you visualize Officer in uniform handcuffed and chained and led in front of at least a hundred watching troops to a vehicle, and they being literally chained inside it? If you can do so, it would be more than I could have ever have done before to that day. Have you ever dreamt of an officer in uniform chained to a bed and at the end of the chain an NCO sitting besides you; And I wonder how you all will feel about the officer Corps as  whole. You must also know about the time we were being blindfolded and handcuffed by subalterns and JCOs; And you have to visualize and feel the hush and quiet that used to descend upon the Company of Engrs who were working here, when this procession used to start. You could have heard a pin fall. It was then that used to be grateful that i was blindfolded and could not see the degradation reflected in their eyes; But why if it was our degradation? Was not the degradation of the entire officer corps; Or were we already the convicted criminals instead of the officers that are still, until you decide otherwise. I hope I can forget it all someday but will I forget the time I needed to relieve myself, and know I was watched and observed by the sentries? Will i forget the smell the used to pervade the cell because the commode was not 10 feet away from my bed? Will I forget the day they kept the food in tin plates and use the commode as table? Will I forget the first 100 days when i used to crave for some darkness so i could sleep; And will I ever forget the glorious time when they allowed us to put off the night at night? What utter luxury that was? Can I ever forget the rattling of a chain and the chill of fear that i feel now even at the sound of it? The fear of further degradation. Can I ever forget the bite of a pair of handcuffs on my wrist? And will I forget the JCO who led me like a a puppy dog at the end of the chain. How many things I can mention to you all, i would have to give you account of something that have born and suppressed inside me all this while.Today I have the chance to speak__ perhaps the only chance and speak I shall. I shall, and must tell you of the day I wept in my cell. That was the day I peeped out when the now normal hush descended upon those outside and I knew some one was being taken. I looked outside and saw Brig Wajid Ali Shah. Brig Wajid I have not told you, but I saw you chained like I was chained. I saw both your hands handcuffed and I saw that Second Lieut. loading you by the chain. I recognized despite the towel they had wrapped around your eyes; And I wept not so much because they have done that to you, but I wept at your posture. You looked so dignified and you seemed so upright and straight, and others were the scum that wore this uniform on that day, God, I hated it as I have never hated anything in my life. They do say love and hate is divided by a hair breadth. It was then that it was crossed. After this incident it was anti climax, the day I saw my CO led around in the same manner. By then I was consumed by hatred. I was not going into the days of solitary confinement. However I do enter Capt Sajjad's cell now and then to remind myself of the 60 days I have spent in it in solitude. I look at the wall and see the 60 lines i have drawn for each day I spent. I look at those lines and remember the pleasure it used to give me waiting for the moment of the day when I could add another line. It was a ritual. I wonder if any one member of the court would find it worth while, to see that cell one of these days. Who was it who said that even if you spend one day in a prison cell you leave some portion of your self behind. Perhaps that is why I am so attached to that gloomy hole. The lesser said about the threats and intimidations  and the tactics of the interrogation here the better. The fact they restrained themselves only to the threat of violence and did not resort to it with me should, I suppose go to their credit. That brings us to the way the S of E was recorded and the things that have been said by the prosecution witness. All of us here are accused of charges that the Army hierarchy preferred against us. Someday, at some future date, when the high court of history sits in Judgement on each one of us our actions in his brief span of services will be measured, we hope not so much by what GHQ alleges, but by the answers to these questions: > Were we truly men of courage > Were we truly men of judgement > Were we truly men of integrity > Were we truly men of dedication What was the wrong that we actually done shall also come some day, and then it shall be known that whether that wrong was evil or dishonourable. However, with due apologies to Shakespeare  We shall be remembered We happy few We band of brothers and those not with us here and now think themselves accursed that they also were not here. For us time of departure is near, and we shall go our separate ways ----- you who sit in judgment to go and serve in the uniform we have loved so much, and we down here to where ever destiny will take us. As to which is  GOD ONLY KNOWS