THIS refers to Mr Safir Siddiqui`s letter (Aug 29). About Brigadier Zia`s having cold feet attending the Staff College Quetta; I quoted from Lt-Gen Gul Hassan Khan`s memoirs, OUP Rawalpindi p.403.

The same page, he will also find an oblique reference to Maj-Gen Nowazish Ali Khan (Brigade Commander in Amman when Brig. Zia was posted out) and his views about Zia. Gen K. M. Arif also writes about Zia`s stint in Jordan, mention of which he always avoided.

The remarks about Benazir `over my dead body,` were made to Kazi Abdul Majeed Abid (father of ex-speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza) information minister of Zia. I quoted from Azhar Suhail Sazishon ka dour, Ferozesons Lahore, 1990, p.37.

For details on narcotics in Zia`s plane, he should read Lt-Gen Faiz Ali Chishti Betrayals of AnotherKind. Asia Publishing House, London, 1989, p.190-191.

Zia wanted a day`s official visit to Canada after his United Nations` speech but Pierre Trudeau (father of the current prime minister) refused him pointblank.

Lil(ewise, President Anwer Sadaat of Egypt excused himself from receiving Zia at Cairo Airport when the latter was on his way west. Please don`t ask for any more references, I am so full of them.

We just can`t get out of the hold of history! Aslam Minhas Karachi