Shahid Aziz


Shahid Aziz, was a Pakistani military author and a public official who served as the Chairman of National Accountability Bureau from 2004–07, and university administrator of the Federal Urdu University in 2014–16. Aziz, a soldier who was trained in the United States in infantry tactics, saw military actions in war theater with India in 1999 through 2001, and in Afghanistan from 2001 till 2004. After retiring from the military, Aziz was the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau but was forced to resigned amid controversy.
Over the years he became an Islamist who believed in a global conspiracy involving the Dajjal, Freemasons and Jews, ultimately dying while fighting for al-Qaeda in Afghanistan during 2018.

Personal life

He was related through marriage to Pervez Musharraf.

Military career

Aziz graduated from the Pakistan Military Academy in April 1971 as the Battalion Senior Under Officer and received the Sword of Honour as well as the Presidents Gold Medal for his performance. He was commissioned in the 10 Battalion of the Baloch Regiment with which he actively participated in the 1971 India-Pakistan War and later on also commanded. He attended the Company Commander Course at Fort Benning, Georgia and the Command and General Staff Course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Aziz is also a graduate of the National Defence University, Pakistan. His military career has placed him in pivotal posts during critical periods in Pakistan. He served as the General Officer Commanding of the 12th Infantry Division stationed at Murree. During the Kargil conflict of 1999, he served as DG of the Inter-Services Intelligence Agencies' Analysis Wing. That same year, he was appointed to the role of Director General Military Operations where he played a crucial role in the October 1999 Pakistani coup d'état that brought Pervez Musharraf to power. After the events of the September 11 attacks in 2001, he was serving as General Officer Commanding 12 Division when the United States invaded Afghanistan. Later that year he was appointed as Chief of General Staff at GHQ. He finally retired from the army in 2005 after having held the post of Lahore Corps Commander for two years during which time he also launched a massive inquiry against corruption in the Defence Housing Authority, Lahore.

Post-retirement

Lt. Gen. Shahid Aziz, who recently created ripples by acknowledging in an article that regular troops were involved in the Kargil operation, said the "misadventure" was a "four-man show" and details were initially hidden from the rest of the military commanders. He published a book Yeh Khamoshi Kahan Tak? Aik Sipahi ki Dastan-e-Ishq o Junoon. General Musharraf, who served as the Chief of Army Staff during Kargil War, has refuted Lt. Gen. Aziz's claims in his book and referred to him as "unbalanced" during an interview when questioned about what had been claimed by Gen Shahid in his book. However, the military achievements and posts on which Lt. Gen. Shahid Aziz has served are sufficient to deny what has been stated against him by the ex-president, who himself has been under numerous legal investigations. Shahid Aziz resigned from the Chairmanship of NAB on moral principles when requested to shut down all cases of Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari amid back channel negotiations between Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto prior to passing of the National Reconciliation Ordinance.
In an answer to a question about his role in the coup by General Musharraf in violation of the law, Lt. Gen. Aziz said that he believed the constitution is a "rotten product." He was investigated for misuse of authority and attaining financial benefits for himself and his son-in-law. National Accountability Bureau. However, he was not formally charged with any crime. National Accountability Bureau had conducted the inquiry.ref>

Death and link with Islamist militants

Having disappeared since 2016, thought to have joined the Islamic State, in 2018 al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent announced through its Urdu magazine Nawa-e-Afghan Jihad that he died while fighting in their ranks.