RAWALPINDI - Veteran politician and former air chief Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan were laid to rest with full state and military honours at the Nawanshahr graveyard in Abbottabad on Saturday.
Formation of four K-8 trainer and four T-37 aircraft from PAF Academy Asghar Khan presented a fly past in the honour of the great leader. The aircraft flew the famous ‘Missing Airman’ Formation, which is an aerial salute indicating the departure of fallen air warrior for eternal abode. No 2 aircraft from both the formations pulled off over the burial ceremony, bidding farewell to the father of Pakistan Air Force.
Later, a smartly turned-out PAF contingent presented the gun salute. Floral wreaths on behalf of chief of the air staff and other dignitaries were also laid on the grave of the departed soul.
Earlier, government and military dignitaries attended the state funeral of Asghar Khan at the Nur Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi.
The funeral prayer was attended by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mehmood Hayyat, Air Chief Sohail Aman, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mehmood Abbasi, cabinet members, ministers, politicians, retired personnel of armed forces and people belonging to various walks of life.
A smart contingent of the Pakistan Air Force personnel presented guard of honour to the deceased.
Later on, the body of Asghar Khan was moved to his native town Abbottabad for burial. In Abbottabad, funeral prayer was offered at Frontier Force (FF) Regimental Center. Civil, military leaders and a large number of people from all walks of life attended the funeral of Asghar Khan who was later laid to rest at his native village Nawanshahr.
Asghar Khan passed away after long illness at a military-run hospital early in the morning on Friday.
According to family members, Asghar Khan was brought to the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) of the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalpindi on 30-12-2017 after his health condition went deteriorating at home.
The doctors provided adequate medical treatment to the patient who was suffering from disease acute respiratory infection, dementia and ischemic heart disease. However, Asghar Khan could not survive and died at 6:10 am.
