RAWALPINDI: Maj Gen A.A.K. Niazi, the Commander of Eastern Command till the fall of Dacca in December, 1971, has been removed from service under Section 16 of the Army Act, according to a gazette notification. Also removed with him under the same Section is Lt.-Col Ghulam Muhammad Baqir Siddiqui, former Chief of Staff Eastern Command. A.A.K. Niazi, who held the temporary rank of Lt-General during his command of the Eastern Command, and after his return following repatriation of Pakistani war prisoners from India, was reduced to his substantive rank of Major-General. Similarly, Ghulam Muhammad Baqir Siddiqui, who held the temporary rank of Brigadier, was reduced to the rank of Lt.-Colonel on his removal from service.

[Meanwhile, as reported by our staff reporter from Karachi,] over 20,000 people have been affected and at least hundred heads of cattle have been lost in the flood in Malir River, caused by a breach in its bund near the Korangi oil refinery… . Residents also claimed at least a dozen huts were swept away by the strong currents… . The water level in the river rose abruptly following widespread rains in the upper reaches of the river.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2025