Air Marshal Zafar Ahmad Chaudhry - The CAP Podcast #5

Air Marshal Zafar Ahmad Chaudhry was born on 9th August 1926 in Sialkot, Pakistan to a family of twelve siblings. He was commissioned in the Royal Indian Air Force on 9th April 1945 and as the Managing Director of Pakistan International Airlines from July 1971 to March 1972. He was the first Chief of Air Staff and a three-star general of the Pakistan Air Force from March 1972 to April 1974. The Citizens Archive of Pakistan had the honor of conversing with him in August 2012. In this clip, Mr. Zafar A. Chaudhry recreates the time when he met with Quaid-e-Azam, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah for the first time in Hyderabad, Sindh.



About Air Marshal Zafar Ahmad Chaudhry

Zafar Ahmad Chaudhry, SQA (born 19 August 1926) was a three-star air officer and the first Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force from March 1972 to April 1974. His predecessor, Abdul Rahim Khan, was called Commander-in-Chief. Before becoming the air chief, Chaudhry stayed as the Managing Director of the national airline Pakistan International Airlines from July 1971 to March 1972.

Early life

He was commissioned in the Royal Indian Air Force on 9th April 1945. Chaudhry has commanded No. 9 Squadron, No. 32 Flying Wing (Mauripur), PAF Academy Risalpur and PAF Base Sargodha.

Early Career

Amongst his staff appointments, he was Director of Operations, Director of Plans and ACAS (Operations) at the AHQ. Among his important assignments in the PAF were: after commander of the PAF Academy and later of PAF Base Sargodha; at Air Headquarter, he did a tour as chief of operations. In between, he graduated from two British staff colleges as well as the Imperial Defence College.

Personal life

Chaudhry is a tireless campaigner for Human Rights in Pakistan and is a founding member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, has served as its Treasurer and is currently a Council Member. Zafar Chaudhry belongs to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.