Majeed Malik

Before entering in politics and diplomatic career, he worked in the British Indian Army in 1939 as a sepoy. He initially served at a clerical job at the Punjab Regiment.

In 1943, he was selected as a commissioned officer in the British Indian Army. He was one of the veterans who observed the partition of India. Before the partition, he was also assigned the security duty of Mahatma Gandhi following the Direct Action Day peace talks between Gandhi and Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy.[1]

After the India subcontinent was divided into two sovereign states such as India and Pakistan, he entered in the Pakistan Army and served at various posts, including as an instructor at the Pakistan Military Academy in 1962. After he qualified entrance examination from the Command and Staff College, he was sent to Canadian Army Command and Staff College where he received his military training. Upon his return, he was posted at Murree and Peshawar. When the country came under 1958 military coup, president Iskander Mirza was forced to submit his resignation from the presidency. Mirza's resignation letter was written by Malik.[2] He was later appointed as commander of Special Services Group during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He later commanded 11th Infantry Division. During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, he served as director for Military Operations at general headquarters in 1969.[1]

When he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, he commanded XI Corps. When Tikka Khan retired from the service, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had to appoint Malik as the Chief of the Army Staff. However, Lt General Zia-ul-Haq, who, after Lt General Majeed Malik, was at the seventh step in the race to become CASO, had earned Bhutto's favour. This resulted in Zia's appointment as CASO and being superseded, Lt General Malik resigned from the military service.[2]

He started his political career in 1988 after electing to the National Assembly of Pakistan. He represented Chakwal constituency four times in 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1997. He won the first two terms on the ticket of Islami Jamhoori Ittehad, and the third and the fourth term on the ticket of Pakistan Muslim League (N).[3]

During his political career, he served as minister of petroleum and minister of States & Frontier Regions in the government of Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi from 11 August 1990 to 6 November 1990.[4] After Nawaz Sharif was elected prime minister, Malik was selected as minister of Kashmir Affairs & Northern Areas from 11 July 1997 to 12 September 1999.[5]

After 1999 coup d'état, he left politics and supported his son-in-law, Tahir Iqbal in the politics from his constituency.[1]

After he retired from the politics, he was appointed ambassador of Pakistan to Morocco and later ambassador to France. During his diplomatic career in Morocco, he wrote several letters to Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq suggesting on foreign affairs. He also sent a letter to general Zia advising to withdraw execution of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. In the latter years, he established Majeed Malik Education and Health Foundations.[2] In 2008, he re-established his associations with Pakistan Muslim League (N) and supported Ayaz Amir in the politics than contesting general election for himself.[6]