President's Bodyguard (Pakistan)

The President's Bodyguard is an elite cavalry regiment of the Pakistan Army. The primary role of the regiment is to escort and protect the President of Pakistan. The regiment is based at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is equipped as a mounted unit, with horses for ceremonies at the presidential palace.

This article is about a Pakistani military unit. For the Indian military unit with the same name, see President's Bodyguard.

President's Bodyguard
Founded1773 (1947)
Country Pakistan
Branch Pakistan Army
TypeCavalry
RolePublic duties
Armoured regiment
Size1 regiment (battalion)
Part ofPakistan Armoured Corps
Garrison/HQIslamabad, Pakistan
PatronPresident of Pakistan
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Yaqoob Khan

History

The predecessor to the regiment was first formed in 1773 as the "Governor's Troop of Moghuls" and consisted of personnel drawn from across areas of India controlled by the British East India Company.[1] The regiment underwent a number of name changes with the final one before independence being in 1946 as the Governor General's Bodyguard.

In 1947, the partition of India resulted in the creation of two independent countries, India and Pakistan. Muslim personnel from the regiment were transferred to the new Pakistan Army to form the Governor General's Bodyguard, Pakistan, with Yaqoob Khan as the first commandant with the rank of lieutenant colonel.[2] The rest of the colonial Governor General's Bodyguard remained with the Indian Army and was renamed as the President's Bodyguard when India became a republic in 1950.

The regiment was subsequently renamed to its current name on 23 March 1956, when Pakistan became a republic and the Governor General, Iskander Ali Mirza, became the first President. In 1958, US Defense Secretary Neil H. McElroy became an honorary member of the regiment on October 24, just days before President Mirza was overthrown in the 1958 Pakistani coup d'état (27 October 1958).[3]

The regiment has retained a link with the British monarchy. In 1961, the regiment performed various equestrian activities such as polo games and tent pegging during the state visit to Pakistan by the British queen, Elizabeth II.[4] A more recent interaction was the involvement of the regiment in events related to the 2012 Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[5]

Uniform

A news article of 1965 mentions the members of the regiment as wearing the pugree (turban).[6]

Sports

The regiment has long had a connection with equestrianism and in particular with the sport of polo. In 1983, the Equestrian Federation of Pakistan was founded by the regiment and continued to be administered by it until December 2013, when responsibility was transferred to the Punjab Rangers.[7]

Teams from the regiment have participated in a number of polo tournaments including:

  • Winning the 1969 "Turkish President's Challenge Cup".[8]
  • Participating in the 2011 "Caanchi & Lugari Polo Cup".[9]
  • Winning the 2018 "Abrar Hussain Memorial Polo Cup".[10]
  • Hosting the 2021 "President’s Bodyguard Polo Cup".[11]

Alliances

See also

References
  1. Hodson, Vernon Charles Paget (1910). Historical records of the Governor-General's Body Guard. University of California Libraries. London : W. Thacker.
  2. Ayub, Muhammad (2002). An Army: Its Role and Rule. Ghosia Colony. p. 168.
  3. Venkataramani, M. S. (1982). The American Role in Pakistan, 1947-1958. Radiant. pp. 395–396. ISBN 9780391027640.
  4. Ṣiddīqī, Abdurraḥmān (1996). The Military in Pakistan, Image and Reality. Vanguard. p. 69. ISBN 9789694022826.
  5. Steve Parsons - WPA Pool (11 May 2012). "Britain's Queen Elizabeth talks with a member of the Pakistan President's bodyguard during a tea party for the cast of the Diamond Jubilee Pageant at Windsor Castle, in southern England May 11, 2012". Getty Images. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  6. "Nations reflect unity". Illustrated Weekly of Pakistan. Vol. 18. Pakistan Herald Publications. 1965. p. 16.
  7. "About Us". Equestrian Federation of Pakistan. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  8. Bhatti, Mukhtar (1969). Twenty Years of Sports in Pakistan. Bhatti Publications. p. 324.
  9. "Polo News Canchi & Lugari Pakistan Polo Cup". Lahore Polo Club. 17–23 January 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  10. "President's Bodyguard lifts Abrar Hussain memorial Polo Cup". Khilari.com.pk. 27 February 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  11. "Sports Calendar 2021-22 (Polo)". Pakistan Sports Board. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  12. The Army List. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. 1966. p. 137.
  13. Mansel, Philip (1984). Pillars of Monarchy: An Outline of the Political and Social History of Royal Guards, 1400-1984. Quartet Books. p. 68. ISBN 9780704324244.
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