Syed Mohammad Ahsan
Vice-Admiral Syed Mohammad Ahsan HQA, SPk, DSC, DMM, LOM (Urdu: سید محمد احسن b. 1920 – d. 1990): 47 often known as S. M. Ahsan, was a senior admiral of the Pakistan Navy who was the Commander in Chief of the Pakistan Navy, serving under President Ayub Khan from 1966 until 1969.
Syed Mohammad Ahsan | |
|---|---|
Vice Admiral S.M. Ahsan (1920–1989) | |
| Military Governor of East Pakistan | |
| In office 1 September 1969 – 1 March 1971 | |
| President | Yahya Khan |
| Prime Minister | Nurul Amin (1970–71) |
| 8th Minister of Finance | |
| In office 5 April 1969 – 3 August 1969 | |
| Preceded by | N M Uqaili |
| Succeeded by | M.A. Qizilbash |
| Navy Commander in Chief | |
| In office 20 October 1966 – 31 August 1969 | |
| President | Ayub Khan |
| Preceded by | V.Adm A.R. Khan |
| Succeeded by | V.Adm Muzaffar Hassan |
| Chairman of the National Shipping Corporation | |
| In office 1975–1976 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Syed Mohammad Ahsan December 1920 Hyderabad Deccan, British Indian Empire |
| Died | 1990 (aged 69–70) Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan |
| Resting place | Military Graveyard |
| Citizenship | British India (1921–1947) Pakistan (1947–1989) |
| Political party | Independent |
| Alma mater | Osmania University (BA) |
| Civilian awards | Hilal-i-Quaid-e-Azam Sitara-e-Pakistan |
| Nickname | 007: 509 |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Royal Indian Navy (1940–1947) Pakistan Navy (1947–71) |
| Years of service | 1938–1971 |
| Rank | Vice-Admiral (S/No. PN.007) |
| Unit | Navy Executive Branch |
| Commands | Commander Logistics (COMLOG) Commander Pakistan Fleet DG Naval Intelligence (DGNI) CO PNS Tariq Aide-de-camp to Louis Mountbatten Military Advisor East-Pakistan military |
| Battles/wars | World War II
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 |
| Military awards | Distinguished Service Cross Legion of Merit Medalha de Mérito Militar |
After that, he briefly served in President Yahya Khan's administration as Finance minister before becoming Governor of East Pakistan in September 1969 until resigning in March 1971 to return to Pakistan. Gaining a commission in the Royal Indian Navy, he participated as a naval officer during World War II with the British and later decided to become a Pakistani citizen following the partition of India by the United Kingdom in 1947. He played a crucial role in establishing the Inter-Services Intelligence and served in the war with India in 1965. Assuming the naval command in 1966, he took initiatives such as establishing the naval special forces, expanding the capabilities of Naval Intelligence and modernising the navy.
He was a trusted colleague of President Ayub Khan while attending the cabinet meetings chaired by President Ayub which enabled him influentially consolidate his national security role in the Ayub administration. After completing his tenure as naval chief, he was appointed as Governor of East Pakistan while serving as a cabinet minister in the Yahya administration.
On 1 September 1969, Vice-Admiral Ahsan assumed as the Governor of East Pakistan until his resignation, in protest, on 7 March 1971. He was then posted back to West Pakistan.