Qazi Altaf Hussain

Lieutenant Colonel Qazi Altaf Hussain (1920–1999) was a Lt. Colonel of 11 Frontier Force Regiment and Commandant of Zhob Militia, Quetta. He served British Indian Army and Pakistan Army with gallantry. He was famous for his bravery in Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 where he commanded his regiment. Before the creation of Pakistan, his British commanders predicted he would become a general, but because of his so hot-tempered attitude, out-spoken and blunt officer that he was forced to retire as Lieutenant Colonel.

Later on, the Martial law Government under President General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq also confiscated his Stud Farm and horses at Hazel Pur, Renala Khurd, as he raised his voice against the injustice of Military Government and administration of Okara Military Farms against the small land owner and peasants.

Early life
He was born of famous qadi’s family of Naushera, Soon Valley. He was the eldest son of Khan Sahib Qazi Zafar Hussain, and grand son of Qazi Mian Muhammad Amjad He was a descendant of Hazrat Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the fourth caliph of Islam from Al-Abbas ibn Ali. He was great great great grand son of Qazi Kalim Ullah, the famous Muslim qadi and jurist of Naushera in the time of Mughal Emperors. He belonged to Awan tribe of ancient repute.

After passing his matriculation examination from Govt. High School Naushera, He studied at Government college, Faisalabad, Government College Lahore, and then Aligarh Muslim University, from where he passed his graduation.

He had the honour to lead the cavalry in front of a political rally of Muslim League in which Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was present. In 1943, when Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah came to Faisalabad and addressed a gathering of over 2 million in the Dhobi Ghat Ground, his father, Khan Sahib Qazi Zafar Hussain arranged a cavalry for the  political rally and provided horses for the cavalry of  Muslim students. His brother Qazi Fiaz Hussain had the honour to sit next to Quaid-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

Army career
He was commissioned in the British Indian Army as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1945. Soon afterward he joined the 11 Frontier Force Regiment. He served in World War II as a 2nd Lieutenant. He also served under Sir Olaf Caroe, and afterward he used to admire him for his efficient administration of North-West Frontier Province, keeping in view the political crisis in his time of this province.

In 1947, after the creation of Pakistan, he joined the Pakistani Army as the 873rd ranking senior officer (his Pakistan Army number was 873). As an infantry officer from Frontier Force Regiment, Qazi Altaf Hussain served Pakistan Army in various positions. He served as a captain and major in Frontier Force Regiment of Pakistan Army, and was promoted as Lieutenant Colonel. He also served in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

Commandant, Zhob Militia
He was appointed as Commandant of Zhob Militia (previously called Fort Sandeman), Quetta. The Zhob Militia is one of the oldest forces of the sub-continent. It was established in 1890 as the Zhob Levy Corps with Captain W.A.D. O' Mealy as its first Commandant. The Zhob Militia had jurisdiction over the region which now includes the entire Zhob division.. It has four wings: at Zhob, Sambaza, Muslim Bagh and Qamardin Karaz.

Zhob city was previously called Fort Sandeman, named after Robert Groves Sandeman, the first Agent to the Governor General of Balochistan (Pakistan). The name was changed on 30 July 1976 by the Prime Minister of Pakistan of that time Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The hand-written remarks inserted by him into the visitors' book (preserved at the Zhob Militia Mess) on the occasion say, "Today we have taken a decision to eliminate last vestige of colonialism of this historical place by changing the name instead (to) Zhob of Sandeman, the British conqueror and oppressor of Pathan and Baloch people and country."



Later days
He pursued intellectual endeavours and activities far beyond retirement, remaining active well into his seventies. He was a great lover of books. He was a great admirer of Lieutenant-General Sir John Bagot Glubb Pasha, and considered him the best historian of Islam in English language. He was also a fan of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Ghulam Ahmed Pervez, and much to the horror of his religious family, tribe, and the people of his area, he used to follow and preach the religious views of these two scholars.

After his retirement, he continued to look after the land of his ancestors and a stud farm at Hazelpur, established by his father Khan Sahib Qazi Zafar Hussain. He died in 1999.