THIS is apropos the letter (Aug 17). With all due respect to the writer I would like to set the record straight as I served as a staff officer to Brig ‘Yunis’ as a major and later also served in the President Secretariat as a lieutenant colonel.

Brig Yunis — this is how he spells his name — was the President’s military secretary in 1980-81. He was succeeded by Brig Mahmood Ali Durrani who served till 1987. Brig Najeeb replaced Brig Durrani as MS and accompanied President Zia that fateful day.

Lt Gen K.M. Arif served as Chief of Staff to President in President’s Secretariat till early 1984. He was promoted General and made Vice Chief of Army Staff and served till he retired in early 1987. General Aslam Baig succeeded Gen K.M. Arif and was at Bahawalpur that day but did not accompany Gen Zia.

Lt Gen Rafaqat was appointed as COS to President Zia in mid-1985 and was COS in August 1988. As is customary, the COS did not accompany the President on out-station visits and retired eventually.

Col (retd) Khan Salman Babar

Lahore

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2017