Iftikhar Khan

Mohammad Iftikhar Khan (}}; 10 January 1909 — 13 December 1949) also known as ''Ifti'', was a two-star general in the Pakistan Army serving as GOC 10th Division. Prior to the Partition of British India, he was an officer in the British Indian Army. He was the most senior to succeed General Douglas Gracey as the Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army, but unfortunately was killed in a C-53 crash with 22 others, including his wife and infant daughter before he could take office leading to Ayub Khan being appointed instead.

Pataudi, a close friend of Iftikhar, claimed that Iftikhar was concerned about the politicization of officers and he distrusted politicians. According to him, Iftikhar once stated that ‘it would be better for both of us if we both got out before our hands were stained and garments polluted’. Additionally, Pataudi believed that if Iftikhar had lived to be C-in-C, "he would not have allowed the Army to be used for political purposes and ‘would have never used his position as C-in-C, to come into power through the Army". Provided by Wikipedia