Former DG ISI General Hamid Gul dies of brain hemorrhage
Hamid Gul, passed away on Saturday just ahead of midnight.
LAHORE (WebDesk) – Pakistan’s former Director-General (DG) for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and a recurring figure in Pakistan’s war against terrorism, Hamid Gul , passed away on Saturday just ahead of midnight. The former DG ISI was shifted to the Combined Military Hospital in Murree, stated her daughter Uzma Gul, after he suffered a brain hemorrhage from which he could not be revived. His body is to be taken to Rawalpindi for burial. His funeral proceedings will be decided by his son, Abdullah.
General Gul was born on 20th November 1936 to Muhammad Khan in Sargodha district of Punjab. Gul’s family was originally from Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Gul entered into the military world with his admission to Pakistan Military Academy Kakul.
General Gul was commissioned into the Pakistan Army in October 1956 with 18th Long Course in the 19th Lancer’s Regiment of the Armored Corps. Gul fought in the 1965 war with India as a Squadron Commander. General Gul attended the Command and Staff College Quetta in 1968-69.
Gul’s main break in his military career came during 1972-1976 when he served as a battalion commander under Pakistan’s former military ruler General Zia-ul-Haq. Gul again served under General Zia as Staff Colonel when Zia was the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1st Armored Division and Commander, II Corps at Multan. General Gul’s relations with General Zia proved to be fundamental in his appointment as DG ISI.
General Gul rose through the ranks to be a Brigadier in 1978 and steadily climbed to be the Military Law Administrator of Bahawalpur. After this, he was promoted to be the Commander of the 1st Armored Division, Multan in 1982.
During General Zia’s regime, Gul was promoted to Director-General Military Intelligence (DGMI). In March 1987, upon General Zia’s nomination, Gul succeeded General Akhtar Abdur Rehman to be Pakistan’s next Chief of ISI until his replacement by former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in May 1989. Gul was transferred to be Commander, II Corps in Multan. General Asif Nawaz had Gul transferred as DG Heavy Industries Taxila which he refused to accept leading to his retirement from the army.
General Gul remained a controversial figure during and after his appointment as Chief of ISI. General Gul’s career was marked by meetings with Afghan Mujahideen as his appointment as ISI Chief came during end stages and post stages of Soviet war in Afghanistan. General Gul became dissatisfied with United States’ (US) treatment of Afghanistan after the end to the Soviet war saying the US had failed to fulfill its promise of establishing a prosperous Afghanistan after the war. US in return accused Gul of having ties with suspicious groups.
Gul’s career was marked by other controversies as well, with Gul accused of having links with the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Gul was accused having alleged involvement in Kashmir insurgency, backing militants.
General also remained active on the political scene as well, both during and after his career, with his formation of Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) and his support for the reinstatement of former Chief Justice of Pakistan Chaudhary Iftikhar.
One might have ideological differences with #HamidGul but no one can deny his love and loyalty to the country and lslam #PakSalutesHameedGul
— Ajmal Khan Wazir (@ajmalkwazir) August 15, 2015
Retired high-ranking General officer of #PakArmy and Ex-DG #ISI (#Pakistan) Gen. #HamidGul passed Away.
— Habibies (@Habibies) August 15, 2015
For all those judging #HamidGul....you have plenty of time going forward. But its surely not today. Respect the departed soul.
— Omar Abid (@omarabid21) August 15, 2015 