Fasih Bokhari facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Admiral Fasih Bokhari NI(M) HI(M) SI(M) SBt PGAT
فصیح بخارى
Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau
In office 17 October 2011 – 29 May 2013
Preceded by	Deedar Hussain Shah
Succeeded by	Qamar Zaman Chaudhry
Chief of Naval Staff
In office 2 May 1997 – 2 October 1999
Preceded by	Adm. Mansurul Haq
Succeeded by	Adm. Abdul Aziz Mirza
Personal details
Born	(1942-03-08)8 March 1942 British India
Died	24 November 2020(2020-11-24) (aged 78) Islamabad, Pakistan
Nationality	British Indian (until 1947) Pakistani (1947–2020)
Military service
Allegiance	Pakistan
Branch/service	Pakistan Navy
Years of service	1959–1999
Rank	Admiral (S/No. PN-858)
Unit	Submarine Command
Commands	Vice Chief of the Naval Staff Commander – Pakistan Fleet DCNS (Operations) ACNS (Personnel)
Battles/wars	Second Indo−Pakistani War Third Indo−Pakistani War (Naval Operations) Kargil War 1999 Atlantique Incident
Awards	Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Military) Sitara-e-Basalat Naval Forces Medal Order of Military Merit Order of Military Service

Admiral Fasih Bokhari (8 March 1942 – 24 November 2020) was a high-ranking officer in the Pakistan Navy. He served as the Chief of Naval Staff from 1997 to 1999. He was known for his strong belief in peace and his disagreement with the Kargil War in 1999. He thought this conflict was not planned well by the government at the time.

Admiral Bokhari also led the National Accountability Bureau, which is an agency in Pakistan that fights against corruption. In 1999, he openly disagreed with a decision made by the Prime Minister about another military leader. He was also known for speaking out against war. In 2011, he was chosen to lead the National Accountability Bureau. However, his appointment caused some debate and he was later removed from this role in 2013.

Life Story

Early Naval Career

Fasih Bokhari was born in 1942 in what was then British India. This area is now part of India and Pakistan. In 1959, he joined the Pakistan Navy as a Midshipman. He went to the Britannia Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom for his training.

After finishing his training in 1962, he became a Sub Lieutenant. He joined the Submarine Command. He served on a submarine called the Ghazi. He also trained in Turkey to learn more about submarine operations.

War Service and Achievements

As a Sub-Lieutenant, Bokhari was a torpedo specialist on the Ghazi. He took part in the 1965 war with India. In 1969, he became a Lieutenant. He then joined another submarine called the Hangor.

During the 1971 war with India, he showed great bravery. He helped identify and sink an Indian ship called the INS Khukri. For his actions, he received an award called the Sitara-e-Jurat. After the war, he was asked to join the Special Services Group Navy (SSGN). He led a group of 80 men to protect the coastal areas near Karachi.

After the war, he felt sad about the outcome and wanted to leave the Navy. But his commanders convinced him to stay. In 1973, he went to France for more training at a naval war college. He returned to Pakistan in 1975 and was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander. He commanded the submarine PNS Mangro.

In 1978, he became a Commander. He also worked at the Ministry of Defence. From 1983 to 1984, he studied at the National Defence University, Pakistan. He earned a master's degree in 1984.

Key Naval Roles

From 1985 to 1991, Fasih Bokhari was a Captain. He worked at the Navy Headquarters. He was in charge of naval operations and planning. He also commanded a few submarines and destroyers.

In 1991, he was promoted to Commodore. He then became the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff for personnel. In 1992, he became a Rear-Admiral. He was in charge of supplies at the Navy Headquarters.

From 1995 to 1997, he was a Vice-Admiral. He commanded the entire Pakistan Fleet. He also became the Vice Chief of Naval Staff. He was involved in getting new submarines for Pakistan from France. He passed away on 24 November 2020.

Leading the Navy

Becoming Chief of Naval Staff

On 1 January 1997, Vice-Admiral Bokhari became a four-star admiral. He took over as the Chief of Naval Staff on 5 February 1997. This meant he was the top leader of the Pakistan Navy. He worked to improve the Navy and encouraged his officers to think more deeply. He also supported building a new naval base in Balochistan, which opened in 1997.

Nuclear Tests and Disagreements

In May 1998, India conducted nuclear tests. Admiral Bokhari, as the naval chief, attended important meetings about Pakistan's response. He argued against Pakistan conducting its own nuclear tests. He believed Pakistan could gain a "moral high ground" by not testing. He suggested a "wait and watch" approach. However, the nuclear tests were carried out later that month.

Later in 1998, a military leader named General Jehangir Karamat gave a speech about how the military and government should work together. The Prime Minister saw this as interference in politics. General Karamat then resigned. Admiral Bokhari publicly criticized General Karamat for resigning.

Kargil War and Its Aftermath

In 1999, the Pakistan Army got involved in a conflict with the Indian Army in Kashmir. This was known as the Kargil War. Admiral Bokhari attended meetings about the war. He felt that the Pakistan Army's actions were not appropriate. He strongly protested against the military strategy used by General Pervez Musharraf. He also suggested an investigation into the Kargil issue.

Admiral Bokhari was worried about the economic impact of the war. He made sure the Pakistan Navy protected oil tankers and secretly sent submarines to watch for any Indian Navy moves. He became well-known for questioning the military strategy of the Kargil War. He felt the Navy was not included in the planning.

After the Kargil War and a military takeover in 1999, Admiral Bokhari advised General Musharraf to step down. He believed it would be best for the country.

His Resignation

In October 1998, General Pervez Musharraf became the head of the army. He was also temporarily made the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. It was expected that Admiral Bokhari would get this top position permanently. However, in September 1999, the Prime Minister extended General Musharraf's term instead.

Admiral Bokhari was very upset by this decision. He openly protested against it in the news. He called the Prime Minister and said he would resign from leading the Navy. He felt he could not serve under General Musharraf, who was his junior officer.

On October 5, 1999, Admiral Bokhari resigned. Many news outlets thought he was just unhappy about not getting the top job. But in 2002, Admiral Bokhari said he resigned because he realized that General Musharraf and Prime Minister Sharif were planning against each other. He did not want to be part of these "dirty games." His resignation showed the growing tension between the government and the military. This tension eventually led to the military taking over the government on October 12, 1999.

Public Service and Peace Efforts

Leading Anti-Corruption Efforts

From 2007 to 2010, Bokhari was the President of the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Association. In 2010, he became the Convenor of The Save Pakistan Coalition.

On 17 October 2011, President Asif Ali Zardari appointed Bokhari as the Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). NAB is an agency that works to stop corruption. His appointment caused some controversy. An opposition leader raised concerns, but the President still approved it. In 2012, Bokhari promised to fight corruption and make NAB more effective.

However, his appointment was challenged in the Supreme Court of Pakistan. In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that his appointment was not valid. On 28 May 2013, President Zardari officially ended Fasih Bokhari's role as NAB chairman.

Working for Peace

After his resignation from the Navy, Admiral Bokhari became active in promoting peace. He worked for peace between India and Pakistan. He also spoke out against wars. In 2002 and 2011, he pushed for an investigation into the events that led to the Kargil War. He was willing to share what he knew with such a commission.

After the Kargil War and the military takeover in 1999, he continued to support peace. He wanted to find ways to prevent future conflicts at sea between the two nations. An Indian naval chief even said that Admiral Fasih Bokhari was a strong supporter of naval cooperation with India. He believed it would help both countries.

From 2010 to 2011, Admiral Bokhari wrote articles for a newspaper. He focused on living peacefully with India and having balanced relationships with the United States and Afghanistan.

Views on the 1999 Military Takeover

In 2002, Admiral Bokhari said he knew about General Musharraf's plans to remove Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. He stated he did not want to be involved in these "dirty games." He felt that the relationship between the elected government and the military leaders was severely damaged after the Kargil War.

Before the military takeover in 1999, Admiral Bokhari noticed that the two leaders, Musharraf and Sharif, were preparing to act against each other. He saw "two centers of power on a collision course." In September 1999, General Musharraf expressed his unhappiness with Prime Minister Sharif. Admiral Bokhari felt that General Musharraf was trying to get the Navy's support for a takeover. Admiral Bokhari advised him not to do it.

He believed that peaceful talks were the best way forward for Pakistan. He thought that stopping these talks would harm the country. He realized that the meeting was held to get his support against the elected government.

Admiral Bokhari is mentioned in a book called "Military Inc." by Ayesha Siddiqa. The book talks about the business interests of the Pakistani military. He is quoted and cited as someone who observed these events.

Criticism

In 2012, a historian named Brian Coughley found it strange that Admiral Bokhari did not tell the government or the President if he knew about the planned military takeover in 1999.

In 2011, a newspaper called The News International criticized Bokhari. They said that as the Chief of Naval Staff, he had quietly closed a case against a retired officer. They also said he did not take action against other naval officers who had received illegal payments.

Awards and Decorations

Foreign Decorations

Foreign Awards
Saudi Arabia	Naval Forces Medal - (1st Class)
Jordan	The Order of Military Merit - Grand Cordon
Malaysia	The Order of Military Service - Courageous Commander

See also

• Philosophy
  • Morality and ethics
  • Moral values
• Interservice rivalry
  • Army vs. Navy