Rao Farman Ali

Who was Rao Farman Ali?

Major-General Rao Farman Ali Khan was a senior and high profile officer who commanded combatant assets and elements of the Corps of Military Police during the East-Pakistan war and following the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. As commander of Military police and senior military adviser as well, Ali executed and oversaw the internal and external deployment and operations of military police in East-Pakistan and security forces including the Volunteers unit. Initially a forward observer in Regiment of Artillery and later as military adviser in East Pakistan, Ali was one of the most powerful men in East-Pakistan and one of the persons allegedly or directly responsible for 1971 atrocities.

Though Ali has denied such allegations, the Hamoodur Rahman Commission proved the involvement of misconducts and atrocities of Pakistan Armed Forces personnel. Ali remains a controversial figure with many of his colleagues and his superior officers accusing Ali for being a "conspirator" of the war in East Pakistan. After the war, Ali was forced out of the military and was dishonored by the government, withdrawing all of the military badges bestowed him earlier.