Siddique Salik Brigadier - General Muhammad Siddiq Salik ( Urdu : برگیڈیر جنرل محمد صدیق سالک ; September 6 , 1935 – August 17 , 1988 ) SI ( M ) , was one of the high profile military officer and public face of of President and chief of army staff General Zia - ul - Haq , serving as the media minister and the heading the Directorate - General for the Inter Services Public Relations ( ISPR ) from August 1985 till his death in 1988 . Early life and education . Siddique Salik was born in village Manglia Kharian , Gujrat District , Punjab . He belongs to a noble Jat family . Salik schooled in Lahore and graduated from Punjab University earning a degree in English literature and international relations . Before receiving his commission in the Pakistan Army , Salik had taught English literature in few colleges in Lahore and Abbottabad . Indo - Pak War of 1965 and Bangladesh - Pakistan war 1971 . Salik fought in the Indo - Pakistani War of 1965 . In 1971 , Salik , as Major , was stationed in East Pakistan , now Bangladesh , when the 1971 Bangladesh independence war against Pakistan ( fought between 26 March - 16 December ) and Indo - Pakistani War of 1971 ( fought between 3 November - 16 December ) took place . Captured by Indian troops on December 19 , 1971 , Salik was initially incarcerated in Agra jail before being shifted to various other prisons as a Prisoner of War . He was eventually handed over to Pakistan under the Simla Agreement which vouched for exchange of prisoners . Salik was a celebrated writer . He wrote an insightful book titled " Witness to Surrender " ( Urdu version : " Meinay Dhaka Doobtay Dekha " ) based on his recollection of the war . 1977 Coup Attempt . In 1977 , General Zia became President of Pakistan following a bloodless coup . Zia - ul - Haq removed civilian officers from top posts and appointed a new military junta , which included Salik amongst its members . On August 17 , 1988 , Salik was traveling with President Zia in his plane as his press secretary and director general inter services public relations , along with U . S . ambassador Arnold Raphel , when the plane crashed under mysterious circumstances killing all on board . Salik authored six Urdu and 3 English books . Among these , the " Witness to Surrender " ( ISBN 81 - 7062 - 108 - 9 ) recounts the 1971 Bangladesh independence war against Pakistan , as seen by Salik who was posted there as the Public Relations Officer . His other books include " Humaa yaraan dozakh " ( a recollection of his years as a prisoner of war after the fall of Dacca , East Pakistan ) , " Ta damay tehreer " ( Urdu ) , " Emergency " , " Pressure cooker " ( both novels in Urdu ) , " Salute " ( biography of his years in army ) , " State vs Politics , A case study of Pakistan " . All his books became best sellers . Brigaidier Siddique Salik is survived by his widow , three daughters and a son . His son Sarmad Salik is a known Islamabad based journalist . He has been director news of state run TV channel Ptv and director current affairs of Ary news besides having worked for national and international newspapers and TV networks . He is now Channel Head of PTV News , heading successfully both Current Affairs and News department . He was appointed due to the weak directors of both departments who have reached their respective positions out of political connections and seniority . He is well known to be straightforward and a good leader and decision taker like his " Shaheed " father .