The 111th Brigade is the most well-known Army brigade in Pakistani social, public, religious, and political circles. Since its creation, the 111th Brigade has been frequently used to overtake and topple civilian governments. The brigade's first involvement in toppling a government was when
General Ayub Khan deposed the government of
Pakistani President Major General (retired)
Iskander Mirza. During the
Battle of Chamb of
1971 war the Regiment played a significant role in the victory of the Pakistani army in battle, during the initial offensive commenced at 2020 hours on 3 December 1971, the 111 Brigade had to secure its part of the
lodgement as it encountered enemy forces at moel, the 66 Brigade, however, accomplished its tasks in securing the Lodgement. The 111 brigade was intended to have captured Chamb by 5 December however it did not, despite the situation
Major General Iftikhar Khan had commanded the Brigade to continue its objectives along with the 20 Brigade. Later on, once the 2 Armoured Regiment had captured Chamb the 111 Brigade would manage to secure a bridgehead across river Tawi after occupying the ferries of Darh and Raipur On July 4, 1977,
General Zia-ul-Haq conducted a
coup d'état against the government of then-
Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The loyalty of the 111 Brigade Commander is crucial to subsequent military regimes. For instance, Zia's mistrust of Commander X Corps, Chishti led him to remove the commander, Brigadier Mohammad Khan, considered close to Chishti and replaced him with Brigadier Rahat Latif without Chishti's knowledge. The 111th Brigade is also responsible for the security of the prime minister's and president's house which makes it much easier for the army high command to execute coups against elected PMs. The brigade was also used by General Parvez Musharraf in thwarting the
Sharif regime after Sharif tried to replace him with Ziauddin Butt. Lt. Generals Aziz and Mahmud reacted quickly after the government broadcast Musharraf's retirement on television. Mahmud reportedly ordered the 111-brigade commander, Brigadier Salahuddin Satti, to secure the prime minister's house. The 111 Brigade completed the coup after confining the prime minister and his aides to the PM house. Prime Minister Sharif was arrested and was later exiled to
Saudi Arabia. In 2007, The brigade's last major participation was in the
Siege of Lal Masjid, in which the government led by
Pervez Musharraf ordered the
Pakistan Army Rangers, and the 111th Brigade surround the
Lal Masjid in
Islamabad. Clashes between the mosque affiliated militia and the security forces quickly ensued. The 111th Brigade was tasked alongside the
Pakistan Rangers and the
Special Service Group in capturing the complex. In 2008, When the
Lawyers' Movement was launched, the
Pakistani media speculated that the
Asif Ali Zardari would launch a
psychological operation against the movement. However, it was later decided by the Pakistani military leadership not to launch the operation. == Current structure ==