Air Marshal Shahid Zulfiqar Ali quoted Edmund Burke to the effect that "the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
A proud practicing Muslim, Air Marshal (Retd) Shahid Zulfiqar Ali was born in Lahore on May 16, 1945. He used to enjoy kite flying and cricket as a child. He has a special liking for sports ever since childhood. The young toddler used to read Enid Blyton’s novels with interest and also found Agatha Christie’s romantic detective novels worth reading. He feels that Agatha Christie is rightly known as a best selling author. His skills at Urdu language were burnished further by enjoying the readings of Ibne Safi’s “Imran Series”, which are one of the favorite detective novels in Urdu.
He finds pleasure in spending his leisure time at Golf. Playing Golf makes him feel light and relaxed, apart from net surfing and listening to eastern classical music. Music somehow is his most preferred pastime – a treat which makes him feel good. He likes Mehdi Hasan and Amanat Ali.
“Desperately Seeking Paradise”: Journeys of a Sceptical Muslim by Ziauddin Sardar stands out as his favorite book. He enjoys reading newspapers as they keep him abreast of the ongoing developments around him – DAWN and THE NEWS being his favorites. He enjoys the poetry of Mirza Ghalib, Ahmed Faraz and Faiz Ahmed Faiz.
He has been to places around the world and vividly remembers his last trip to USA in 2002. He loves aquariums and “Parakeets – a species of parrots”.
After his basic schooling at Watan Islamia High School, Lahore he joined PAF Public School, Sargodha before graduating as a fighter pilot from the PAF Academy, Risalpur, in 1962. He drew inspiration from his Geography teacher Mr Fasihuddin while studying in the PAF College, Sargodha. He also found a mentor in Chugtai Sahib who taught him Mathematics and was his Housemaster as well.
As a “fighter pilot” in the Pakistan Air Force, he participated in the wars of 1965 and 1971.
Impressed by late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for being a dynamic and trendsetter leader, Air Marshal (Retd) Shahid Zulfiqar Ali entered politics in 2002 elections. He thinks that rule of law, free and impartial judiciary and long-term education as the most urgent issues of the country. Being an optimist, he believes Pakistan has tremendous potential to maintain its freedom, sovereignty and independence after 20 years from now.
According to Air Marshal (Retd) Shahid Zulfiqar Ali, his party believes that the family values should be promoted and women empowered.
They were nine brothers and sisters and his one brother has died while the rest are still alive. Air Marshal Shahid Zulfiqar’s progeny is flourishing well. He is a father of one daughter and two sons and a grandfather of four kids.
