August 17, 1988

摘要

On 17 August 1988 General Mirza Aslam Beg - VCOAS Pakistan Army -was flying to Multan from Bahawalpur when his helicopter pilot informed him that the Presidential plane was not responding to the Bahawalpur Air Traffic Controller's' calls. "You call the Presidential plane", General asked the pilot. "Alpha One — Alpha One — Do you read me, over". No reply. "Alpha One - report my signal". Still no reply. General Aslam Beg asked the pilot to turn back and they both soon saw to their horror the C-130 carrying the President Zia-ul-Haq, the US Ambassador Rafael and the elite crop of top generals of the Pakistan army, manoeuvring uncontrollably in the air over the river Sutlej near Bahawalpur.