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Mushtaq Ahmad Baig HI(M) (1951 – 25 February 2008) was the surgeon general of the Pakistani Army until his death from a suicide-bomb attack on 25 February 2008. He was an ophthalmologist by profession. Baig is the oldest senior Army officer to be targeted and killed since Pakistan's involvement in the war on terror and the North West-Pakistan Conflict. He is the most senior Pakistan Army general to have died in war since the death of Major General Iftikhar Khan Janjua in the Battle of Chamb.[1]
Lieutenant General Mushtaq Ahmed Baig | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Mushtaq Ahmed Baig 21 December 1951 |
| Died | 25 February 2008 (aged 56) |
| Allegiance |  Pakistan |
Branch | Pakistan Army |
Service years | 1976 - 2008 |
Rank |  Lieutenant General |
| Unit | Pakistan Army Medical Corps |
| Commands | |
Conflicts | |
| Awards |  Hilal-i-Imtiaz |
Early life and career
editBaig was born in Lehr Sultanpur Village, Chakwal District, in 1951 to a middle-class family. He graduated from King Edward Medical University (KEMU)[2] with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) in 1974. Two years later, Baig was granted a military commission, and was subsequently inducted into the Army Medical Corps. Baig completed his Master of Surgery (M.S.) degree and received a Doctorate of Ophthalmology from the Army Medical College (AMC).[3]
After joining the Pakistan Army, Baig quickly climbed in rank as he excelled at various assignments. In 2003 he was promoted to major general, and made commandant of Army Medical College Rawalpindi (AMCR).[4] Baig is credited for implementing revolutionary changes in the medical services in the Pakistani Armed Forces (PAF), following his death, the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee praised Baig's contributions for overall improvement of the medical support to the Armed Forces of Pakistan.[5] In 2006, Baig was awarded the second-highest military award, the Hilal-i-Imtiaz–Military. That same year, he was promoted to lieutenant general. In 2007, he was made the surgeon general of the Pakistani Army and was promoted to colonel commandant of the Army Medical Corps. His wife died on 10 August 2024.
Assassination
editOn 25 February 2008, General Baig's vehicle was targeted by a suicide bomber. The suicide bomber, suspected to be linked to Al-Qaeda or the Taliban, struck when Baig's car was stopped at a traffic light on a busy road in Rawalpindi. The attack killed General Baig, the suicide bomber, and eight civilians, leaving twelve wounded.[6][7][8]
Aftermath
editPresident Parvez Musharraf and care-taker Prime Minister Muhammad Mian Soomro strongly condemned the attack.[9] The road was renamed as "Mushtaq Baig Shaheed Road" in honour of Baig.
References
edit- ↑ Buncombe, Andrew (26 February 2008). "Suicide bomber kills general in Pakistan". The Independent- Asia Correspondent. Islamabad, Pakistan.
- ↑ "Lieutenant-General Mushtaq Ahmad Baig". Facebook.
- ↑ (ISPR), Inter Services Public Relations. "Lieutenant-General Mushtaq Ahmad Baig - Dated: February 25, 2008".
- ↑ Federal Bureau (2008). "Rawalpindi Suicide Blast: Kills 8 with Pakistan Army Surgeon General". Pakistan Times. Rawalpindi, Punjab province: Mumtaz Hamid Rao. Archived from the original on 3 June 2008.
- ↑ "COAS/ CJCSC condemn suicide attack on Surgeon General Mushtaq Ahmad Baig". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012.
- ↑ "Blast Kills Surgeon General of Pakistani Army". The New York Times. 26 February 2008.
- ↑ "Suicide bomber strikes at Pindi Mall, kills army surgeon-general". Dawn. 26 February 2008.
- ↑ "Top Pakistan army medical officer killed in blast". Reuters. 25 February 2008.
- ↑ "COAS/ CJCSC condemn suicide attack on Surgeon General Mushtaq Ahmad Baig".