Sultan Mohammed Khan Mengal
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Quetta, Balochistan province, Pakistan
British India
Pakistan
British Indian Army (1941–1947)
Pakistan Army (1947–1967)Sultan Mohammed Khan Mengal | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 1918 |
| Died | 26 September 2021 (aged 102) Quetta, Balochistan province, Pakistan |
| Allegiance | British India Pakistan |
| Service | British Indian Army (1941–1947) Pakistan Army (1947–1967) |
| Years of service | 1941–1967[1] |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Battles / wars | World War II |
Lieutenant Colonel (retd) Sultan Mohammed Khan Mengal (November 1918 – 26 September 2021) was the oldest Pakistan Army veteran. He joined the British Indian Army in 1941 and was commissioned in the 5th Baluch (Jacob Regiment) in 1942.[2] Following the independence of Pakistan, he joined Pakistan Army and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1967. Sultan Mohammad also held pivotal positions in Balochistan after his retirement, such as the Vice Chancellor of University of Balochistan, the Commander of the Balochistan Dehi Muhaafiz (now known as Balochistan Reserve Police) and as Director of Project Kohlu. He died on 26 September 2021 in Quetta and was 103 years old at the time of his death.[1][3]
Sultan Mengal was born in November 1918.[4] His father's name was Mir Habib Khan. Habib Khan belonged to the celebrated Paindzai subclan of the Zagr Mengal branch of the Mengal Tribe. Sultan Khan's mother was Bibi Hooran. She was the sister of Mir Raheem Khan, the head of the Rakhshani Badini Tribe. She was a learned woman who knew how to read Persian and also the Quran in Arabic, which was thought of as considerable achievement for a man, more-so a woman. She played an important role in raising her sons. Sultan Muhammad was the Youngest among five brothers. He also had three sisters.[5][unreliable source?]
His eldest brother Mir Samand Khan (born c. 1889) had served in the British Army and also as a commander in Khan of Kalat's army. His second brother Mir Lawang Khan (born c. 1901) was a tribal politician and also had the reputation of being a self-taught local doctor. He died on 7 August 1973 while fighting with the Pakistan Army during the 1973 Military Operation carried out in Balochistan by the Federal Government. Mir Lawang Khan is noted for being a martyr of the Baloch people. Sultan Mohammad was arrested the day he returned to Quetta after burying Mir Lawang Khan. Sultan Khan's third brother Mir Lal Bux Mengal (born c.1906) also served for a while in Khan of Kalat's army during which time he held a commanding position in Makran. Sultan Mohammad's Fourth Brother Mir Gul Khan Nasir was a Baloch politician, poet, historian, and journalist from Balochistan. Most of his work is in Balochi language, but he also wrote in English, Urdu, Brahui and Persian.[5][unreliable source?]
Military career
Sultan Mengal started his military career by joining the British Indian Army in 1941 and got a commission in the 5th Baluch (Jacob Regiment) in 1942.[2][1] After the independence of Pakistan, he joined Pakistan Army's Frontier Force Regiment and also served as the instructor at Infantry School Quetta. He also served as the commandant of the Khyber Rifles, 2FF Guides, Sutlej Rangers, Northern Scouts Gilgit.[2] He retired in 1967 from Pakistan Army as a Lieutenant Colonel.[1][6]