In 1950, he accompanied his family as immigrants to Dhaka, East Pakistan (later Bangladesh) and was selected for the 4th army pre-cadet training school in Quetta. He was then admitted to the 7th Batch Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) in Kakul and on 14 February 1953 was commissioned as a permanent regular officer with the Pakistan Army service number PA-4484 in the infantry corps of the Pakistan Army in the First Battalion (called the "Senior Tigers") of the East Bengal Regiment with the rank of second lieutenant.