Muhammad Zakaullah Explained

Honorific-Prefix:Admiral
Muhammad Zakaullah
Native Name:instead.-->
Order:Chief of Naval Staff
Term Start:2 October 2014
Term End:7 October 2017
Predecessor:Adm. Asif Sandila
Successor:Adm. Zafar Mahmood Abbasi
Order2:Director-General of the National Accountability Bureau
Term Start2:16 November 1999
Term End2:17 November 2003
Predecessor2:Office established
Successor2:Lt-Gen. Shahid Aziz
Birth Name:Muhammad Zakaullah
Birth Date:1958 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Lyallpur, Punjab, Pakistan
Nationality:Pakistani
Mawards:is not set -->
Nickname:ZAK
Branch: Pakistan Navy
Serviceyears:1975–2017
Rank: Admiral
Unit:Naval Operations Branch
Commands:Vice Chief of Naval Staff
Commander Pakistan Fleet
DCNS (Ops)
DCNS (Trig.)
Combined Task Force 150
Ins-Gen. Naval Police
Pakistan Naval Academy
Battles:Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts

Piracy off the coast of Somalia

War in Afghanistan

Operation Decisive Storm

Mawards:









Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah (Urdu: ; born 10 January 1958[1]) is a retired admiral in the Pakistan Navy, who was the 15th Chief of Naval Staff of the Pakistan Navy. He was later replaced by Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi.

He is noted for his sportsmanship, having represented Pakistan at the Olympics for a sailing class category, for which he is a recipient of a national honor.[2]

As naval chief, Admiral Zakaullah is noted for revolutionizing the role of the navy, emphasizing the role of the navy in economic corridor with China and took initiatives to strengthened ties with the Turkish Navy.[3] [4] He also played an active role in establishing the very low frequency facility to provide communications with the submarines as well as ensuring the second-strike capability by commissioning the cruise missile system in the strategic command of the Navy.[5]

Biography

Early life and career in Navy

Muhammad Zakaullah was born in Lyalpur (now Faisalabad) in Punjab, Pakistan on 10 January 1958[1] to a Jat Family. After graduating from the Cadet College Hasan Abdal, he joined the Pakistan Navy in 1975 where he was sent to join the Pakistan Naval Academy, graduating at top of his class and conferred with coveted Sword of Honour and awarded the chief of the naval staff gold medal at his graduation.[6] [7] Sub-Lieutenant Zakaullah gained commissioned in the Operations Branch, and was sent to United Kingdom for his training and education later his career.

He attended and did his military training from the Royal Naval Staff College, and later attended the London University where he gained MA in Defence studies.[8] He also an attended and graduated from the Quaid-e-Azam University, having attained the MSc in War Studies.[9]

Upon returning to Pakistan, he joined the faculty of and National Defence University to teach war studies.[10]

War and staff appointments

Zakaullah qualified as a surface officer from the United Kingdom, serving first in the Babur which he later commanded as Commander. He also served as a military attaché at the Pakistan Embassy, Doha in Qatar.[11] Captain Zakaullah served as the Directing Staff at the Pakistan Naval War College before taken as secondment by the President Musharraf.

From 1999 till 2003, Commodore Zakaullah tenured as the Director-General of the National Accountability Bureau, before taking over the command of the 25th Destroyer Squadron.[12] [13] His other command appointments included his role as Chief Inspector of Naval Police and military secretary to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz for a short brief of time.[13] Rear-Admiral Zakaullah also commanded the CTF–150 in Arabian Sea to guard off operations on Somalian piracy.[14]

At the Navy NHQ, he was appointed as ACNS (Plans), DCNS (Training and Personnel), and DCNS (Operation).

Vice-Admiral Zakaullah's last war assignment included command of the Pakistan Fleet as its senior commander.[15]

On the height of border escalation with India, he reportedly responded to the incident to media that, Pakistan has ability to answer the disturbance of border.[16]

In an emergency address to the media representatives at the ISPR directorate, he quoted to the media that "Pakistan forces are prepared for any critical situation."[16] Answering the question of Indian Army's further capabilities, Admiral Zakaullah said that Pakistan was not concerned due to New Delhi's ground capability as it had the ability to defend itself against any aggression.[17] [18]

Chief of Naval Staff

In 2014, Vice-Admiral Zakuallah was promoted to four-star rank admiral. He became first naval chief in the history of Pakistan with Sword of Honour.

Sportsmanship

He is a keen yachtsman and has represented Pakistan at numerous international events, including 1984 Olympics and Asian Games of 1986 and 1990.[19] He has won gold medal at the Asian Games twice.[2] He is also a recipient of President's Award for Pride of Performance for outstanding performance in yachting.[2]

Awards and decorations

Pakistan Navy Operations Branch Badge
Command at Sea insignia
Nishan-e-Imtiaz(Military)

(Order of Excellence)

Hilal-e-Imtiaz(Military)

(Crescent of Excellence)

Sitara-e-Imtiaz(Military)

(Star of Excellence)

President's Award for Pride of Performance

(Sailing - 1987)

Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Military)

(Medal of Excellence)

Tamgha-e-Baqa(Nuclear Test Medal)

1998

Tamgha-e-Istaqlal Pakistan(Escalation with India Medal)

2002

10 Years Service Medal20 Years Service Medal30 Years Service Medal
35 Years Service Medal40 Years Service MedalTamgha-e-Sad Saala Jashan-e-Wiladat-e-Quaid-e-Azam

(100th Birth Anniversary of

Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

1976

Hijri Tamgha(Hijri Medal)

1979

Jamhuriat Tamgha(Democracy Medal)

1988

Qarardad-e-Pakistan Tamgha(Resolution Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1990

Tamgha-e-Salgirah Pakistan(Independence Day

Golden Jubilee Medal)

1997

Turkish Legion of Merit(Turkey)
CISM Medal of Merit - Officer[20]

2016

The Legion of Merit[21] [22] (Degree of Commander)

(USA)

2016

Order of King Abdul Aziz(1st Class)[23] [24]

(Saudi Arabia)

2017

The Order of Military Service[25] [26] (Malaysia)

2017

Foreign Decorations

Foreign Awards
TurkeyThe Legion of Merit Turkey
CISM Medal of Merit - Officer
United StatesThe Legion of Merit (Degree of Commander)
Saudi ArabiaOrder of King Abdulaziz al Saud
MalaysiaThe Order of Military Service - Courageous Commander

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Muhammad Zakaullah Bio, Stats, and Results. https://web.archive.org/web/20200418044810/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/za/muhammad-zakaullah-1.html. dead. 18 April 2020. Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. 25 August 2017. en.
  2. News: Commodore Zakaullah promoted as Rear Admiral. 11 May 2013. Associate Press of Pakistan. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140914000227/http://app.com.pk/en_/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37698. 14 September 2014. dmy-all.
  3. Web site: Pakistan, Turkey Naval Drill Begins on Saturday. 18 November 2016.
  4. Web site: Pakistan commissions new naval base with VLF transmission station. 16 November 2016.
  5. Web site: Pakistan, China begin naval exercises in Arabian Sea.
  6. Web site: Welcome to MMSP. www.mmsp.com.pk. Master Mariners Society of Pakistan. 10 October 2017.
  7. News: Ghauri. Irfan. Admiral Zakaullah appointed as new navy chief—The Express Tribune. 10 October 2017. The Express Tribune. The Express Tribune, Islamabad. The Express Tribune Press 2014. 2 October 2014.
  8. News: News Desk. Admiral Zakaullah appointed new Chief of Naval Staff - Pakistan - Dunya News. 10 October 2017. Dunya News. Dunya News. Dunya News 2014. 2 October 2014.
  9. News: Daily Pakistan Release. 11 May 2013.
  10. News: Three naval officials made vice admirals. 11 May 2013. Daily Pakistan. 15 February 2012. etal.
  11. News: Staff Writers. Vice Admiral Zakaullah is new naval chief. 10 October 2017. Paktribune. Paktribune. Paktribune, 2014. 3 October 2014. en.
  12. Web site: Alumni. Abdalians. Admiral Zakaullah appointed as Navy Chief. abdalians.com. Cadet College Alumni Association. 10 October 2017. en-gb.
  13. News: Vice Admiral Zakaullah appointed vice chief of naval staff. 10 October 2017 . Pakistan Today. 3 October 2014.
  14. News: Staff. Commander of Sri Lanka Navy Visits Pakistan. 11 May 2013. Naval Today. 14 November 2012.
  15. News: Press Release. Two rear admirals promoted to vice admiral. 11 May 2013. Pakistan Times.
  16. News: APP. Pakistan has ability to answer the disturbance of border (Pakistan Navy). 23 February 2013. The Newstrack and APP. 13 January 2013. etal. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20171012061711/https://www.thenewstrack.com/pakistan-has-ability-to-answer-the-disturbance-of-border-pakistan-navy/. 12 October 2017. dmy-all.
  17. News: Front DEsk. Pakistan Navy able to repel border attack. 13 December 2017. GEO TV. 12 January 2013.
  18. Web site: Pak Navy able to repel border attack. The News International. 8 February 2013.
  19. Web site: Muhammad Zakaullah . Olympedia . 17 June 2020.
  20. Web site: Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan . 2022-05-24 . ispr.gov.pk.
  21. Web site: Dawn.com . 2017-03-17 . Naval Chief presented Legion of Merit during US visit . 2022-04-02 . DAWN.COM . en.
  22. Web site: APP . 2017-03-18 . US Legion of Merit award conferred on naval chief . 2022-04-02 . DAWN.COM . en.
  23. News: Top Saudi military award for Pak naval chief . 2022-04-02 . www.thenews.com.pk . en.
  24. Web site: 2017-10-02 . CNS Admiral Zakaullah conferred with King Abdul Aziz Medal of Excellence . 2022-04-02 . 92 News HD . en-US.
  25. Web site: Zakaullah conferred with honorary award of Malaysian armed forces – Business Recorder . 2022-05-24 . en-US.
  26. Web site: 2017-10-15 . Ex-naval chief Admiral Zakaullah conferred with Malaysian military honour . 2022-05-24 . The Express Tribune . en.