Air Marshal (retd) Azim Daudpota laid to rest in Karachi
Governor Sindh, Vice Chief of Air Staff and Corps Commander Karachi also attended funeral prayers.
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Hero of the 1965 and 1971 wars, Air Marshal (retd) Azim Daudpota, who breathed his last in Karachi on Monday after a brief illness, was laid to rest in Karachi. He was 84.
His funeral prayer was offered at the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Base Faisal after which he was buried at the PAF Korangi Kareek graveyard.
A large number of people including Governor Sindh, Vice Chief of Air Staff, Corps Commander Karachi and high ranking civil and military officials attended the funeral prayer.
Air Chief Marshal, Sohail Aman, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force has expressed his grief on the sad demise of the iconic legend and a national hero.
Air Marshal Azim Daudpota, was born on 14 September, 1933, in a well educated family of Bombay, British India. Having completed his secondary education from D J Science College, in 1951, he joined RPAF Academy Risalpur in July 1951. After five months of military training, he was selected for further flying training at Australia.
After spending four exciting years at Point Cook Air Force Base, he returned to PAF in 1955 and started his career as a promising fighter pilot.
During 1965 war, Sqn Ldr Azim Daudpota flew 15 strike and 5 Air Defence missions and was responsible for wrecking many tanks, guns, vehicles, in the face of heavy enemy ground fire.
His great moments came on 21st September 1965, when his formation destroyed many enemy medium guns at Wagha-Atari Sector. For his leadership, devotion to duty and complete disregard for personal safety, Sqn Ldr Azim Daudpota was awarded Sitara-i-Jurrat.
In 1983, Air Marshal Daudpota was selected as the first non-local ‘Commander of Zimbabwean Air Force’ on the request of Zimbabwean President.
He took the responsibility of rebuilding the Zimbabwean Air Force as a challenge and proved equal to the task. On successful completion of his tenure in 1986, he was awarded the second highest medal of the country, The Zimbabwe order of merit by President Mugabe.
Air Marshal Azim Daudpota became the Managing Director of PIA in 1986 and served on this important portfolio for three years. In 1999, he became the Governor of Sindh.
…. With input from APP
