My Beautiful Rizwan

With due apologies to Mrs. Rizwan and other readers.

The response of some of the interactors on this board leaves me a little disappointed. We all know the army is nobody`s sweetheart and that there are many who have come to grief since it came to power. That`s no secret. But is the army the only one responsible for the state we`re in. This country has a history of fostering marauders, a tradition of harboring malignancies, and successive waves of despots have in their turn been responsible for looting the nation. And I find I can`t even blame them any more; wo apni khaslat se majboor hain. What I find intolerable is the death-defying stupidity of the Pakistani people, who with equal mixtures of self-contempt, ignorance and faithlessness allow such a state of affairs to persist. And we can analyse the reasons for this apathy until we go blue in the face (drawing room prophets, our regional experts on everything from the bottles of alcohol consumed during an average bridge game in Rawalpindi to the coming of the Apocalypse, have it down to an art) but nothing will ever change. Until we learn to respect ourselves and see promise in the lives we lead. Do we really believe in Pakistan? Ask yourself that.
(Let me now sit back and watch the wind scatter my words.)

Samina,
Assalam o alaikum

May Allah enhance your recompense, forgive the deceased and induce you with patience; and multiply for us and for you recompense through patience and tolerance.

“Our souls, wealth and families are wonderful gifts from Allah, which He has loaned to us so that we may take benefit from them for a set period; and he takes them away after the termination of that period. Thus, gratitude becomes binding on us when He gives and patience becomes obligatory when He takes away” – Prophet (PBUH).

May Allah’s peace be upon you and your family; and His mercy and blessings. Amen.


Regards,
Saba

Samina:
That was a beautiful tribute. Your love for your late husband and his for you oozed through each sentence of yours.
May God give you the strength to bear this loss.

imran #41 My condolences to you as well on your loss of a dear brother. You mention an education trust being started in your late brother`s name by Mrs. Rizwan. I think this is a very good step, and the lives of young people would thus be made in the name of your brother. Would either of you care to describe this further?

re ROmair #42:

Field Marshal sahib bahadur:

My post was not directed at individuals but at the institution. I have the utmost respect for the men who serve our nation`s armed forces. Since you seem to always look for personal qualifications no matter what the issue(which I believe is completely irrelevant), I`ll supply you some to make you happy.
Without going into too many specifics, both my father and father-in-law are former military officers. My best buddy`s father was one of the first PAF pilots to embrace `shahadat` in the 71 war. His coffin draped in the green and white Pakistani flag is one of the most enduring memories of my childhood. I`ve spent my entire childhood and teenage years in army contonments. One of my uncles was a POW in East Pakistan. He came back a raging maniac. His entire family is still recovering from the trauma. Nearly a quarter of my classmates are now either in the Army or Airforce. Before you go off riding on your mighty horse proclaiming my insensitivity to the plight of the brave men manning our borders, look at damage the INSTITUTION has brought to OUR country.

The PAF is as much a corrupt organisation as the army. Since you`ll be looking for written affadavits to prove it, I am afraid I have none. You proclaim Mushaf Mir to be a brave and honest officer. Was there any rebuttal of the allegations against him in satribune.com? Does having a `shaheed` in your family entitle you to treat the country`s treasury as your personal kitty? I guess we`ll have to pay the debts of Zia and Akhtar Abdul Rehman to their progency sitting in the assemblies.

The `ordinary` men of the armed forces are not `ordinary` anymore. They are complicit in the rape of the country that it has endured since its inception. We have to pay our respects to the dead. At the same time we should care about the living.

I don`t expect you change your tune one bit because you have gone too far on the dark side. Just wanted to keep the record clear.

later
-sac

sac #40: I have tried unfortunately with little success, to explain to various people on Chowk the inconsistencies of their views about the military. Apparently, this article has shown people a different side of the military and may have succceeded where I failed. You seem to be the only one left who still sticks to his generalizational (no pun intended) biases.

I did not know AC Rizwan, but he is the brother in law of a close friend. I have met so many people like him while I was in the military. And so many unlike him also. More importantly I have met so many wives of shaheeds everyone of whom was like him. There is a lot more to the military than just Gen. Zia and Martial Law. Unfortunately some people are unwilling to accept that. There can be no excuses for many of the things done in Martial Laws, but your comments are equivalent of wishing all Punjabis a death in a 747 due to what Nawaz Sharif has done.

Let me explain to you the biases in your arguments:

1. While Generals have run our land Air Marshalls have not. The PAF never participates in a Martial Law even though it gets invited into every single one. As a tradition it never sends its officers in Martial Law positions. Can you name a single Martial Law appt. currently, from the PAF?

2. Most of the officers you will meet in the PAF (and Army and Navy) have far more in common with the common Pakistani man than the expatriates and the people one runs into on Chowk. General ranks constitute less than 0.1% of any military. The well-off Pakistanis rarely join the military.

3. Many of the individuals who died in this crash were not even officers. They were airmen (jawans, as they are known in the Army). They have less material assets than the common man you seem concered about.

Let me tell you about someone I did know a little, AVM Razzaq. He was from a village in Mianwali. Completely from a villager/very small town family when he joined the PAF. His father was a schoolmaster in the Mianwali area throughout his career. He was the one person in his family who made it and became a cadet with absolutely no connections. People from such ordinary backgrounds would not even be allowed into Defence and Cliftons of Pakistan. He then set a record for F.Sc marks in pre-engineering in all of Pakistan which stood for a long time and may still be standing. He was such an exceptional pilot that he commanded F-16 squadron and become the top instructor on this aircraft. His command was during the Afghan war,when I got to know him in Sargodha where I was a freshly recruited aeronautical engineer. By that time he was quite well-groomed but I imagine NazarHayatKhan`s description fits him quite well as a young boy out of Mianwali. I don`t know whether he could even afford a car at that time though he was commanding 14 F-16s. He flew many missions himself against the Soviet aircraft as they invaded into Pakistan on a daily basis. His hard work led him to become a Major General (AVM).

When he died his coffin was taken back to his family areas in Mianwali where I imagine the rest of his family still lives much like they lived before. I think they must have been in awe of the local boy who had made it so big and must have been shattered at his death.

Under what kind of reasoning should people like him crash in your imaginary 747.

ACM Mushaf is someone I don`t know either. Whatever my colleagues have told me indicates he was a good man, also. His brother became a Shaheed as a young Army officer (Lieutenant/Captain) in 65 war. In that war his sister lost her husband (then of Captain rank in the PAF), who is now a legendary PAF shaheed (Flt. Lt. Yonis).

A family that has lost three of its sons with thier boots on for their country is rare to find anywhere in the world. They deserve a little more respect than you are willing to give them. Not that they need your respect in any manner.

Before one criticizes someone one must look at whom one is criticizing, the facts available and one`s own stature in terms of dedication to the common man. Many if not most of the people who died in this crash were from far more common backgrounds than most of us here on this site. One should not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

There are individuals who have done a lot of wrongs in the military (primarily the Army). After all they are Pakistanis also like the rest of us corrupt Pakistanis. Why should they be different? But if you have any specific information on these individuals who died in the crash related to anything they did wrong kindly present it. Otherwise, what do you gain by trying to portray yourself as a rebel at the expense of people who have passed away and are not here to defend themselves?

My earliest childhood memory of my elder brother, and only brother, is of 1961 or perhaps 1962 in Mardan. I was sitting in a square shaped cane basket attached to the bicycle handle being given a ride by one of our very senior cousins or maybe it was Kaleem mamu, and my elder brother shouting for his turn. My last memory of him is sitting in a cane chair on 18th Jan 2003 with a cigar shaped bottle of perfume in his mouth (which he thought was a cigar!) that I teasingly gave him to “smoke when you become an Air Marshal”. A few hours later we shook hands and parted for ever. We would hardly ever embrace. He called me on the 19th from Lahore that there was a delay in returning to Rawalpindi and if I could stay another day as a 2 day visit from USA is too short, but I had some useless work in London and then another one of those meetings in Arlington, VA. I told him that when you come over in Apr/May to pay homage to “Aqa Bush” and the Pentagon with the Air Chief then we will meet and talk as this trip was just out of the blue. That was the last time we talked. How I wish I had stayed another day.
Our father died in July 1987 when my ship was crossing Bay of Biscay, bound for Iran. It took me almost 6 weeks before I could make it to my mother in Jhelum. I still remember that I cried only twice, once when I met my mother and second time when I met my brother. He told me “don’t worry, I am still here”. Now I am all alone wanting someone to say that to me. He was not much older than me, only 19 months and one class ahead. I left my mother after 8 days as I was already late for my class in England, only because my elder brother was there to look after our mother and sister. Due to this small age difference, we had our differences, some lasting longer than they should have, and he was always the one who would make up. The last time was in Jan 2003. Perhaps I was always taking advantage of him. All his E-Mails would end by “with love” but mine never ended like that. Last one was on 13th Feb wishing us a happy Eid and all I wrote back was a curt “Thanks, same to you” because I was busy, doing what I can’t even remember. Till he went to Cadet College Hasanabdal in 1970 and I followed him in 1971, I used to be far better in studies. Once in Jesus & Mary Convent, Sialkot, he managed 8th position when the class strength was only 9! I seriously asked him who is this person who could not even beat you. His reply was that you will see one of these days I will score more than you and take this arrogance out of you. That he did and by a long way. Who would ever imagine him to be in the CCH college band, to escape all the physical activities! He might not have been the brightest but he was the hardest working amongst all of us. If anyone needs an example of transformation from an average person to a high achiever, look at my brother. For some reason I was abu jan’s favorite and ami jan of course liked him more than me till his last day. I don’t fault her. I was never there to look after her. Even till last year I complained to my mother that she likes him more because of his achievements.
I am one of the very few people in our family who would always call him by his proper name because I always hated when people called me by my pet name. I remember when we were children, our parents tried for a while that I should call him bhaijan and I balked at the idea. At that time I thought a bhaijan should be someone who is much older than me and better than me! Now I can not even make Haider call his elder brother Asad, bhaijan, and they are six years apart.
My wife always said that the two of you meet for a few days in a year and still there is not much talk. You ask him a silly question and get a short reply then he asks you one and you say either “yes” or “no”. He asks you where you went this time and you rattle off the names of some countries as if going from Rawalpindi to Lahore and stopping in Dina and Lala Musa! It does not look like two brothers meeting after a year or so. This was not our fault. This was in our family. We never learnt to show visible love. Our father never did, but all of us knew that he loved us deeply. Perhaps our parents are to be blamed. They wanted the best of education that an honest army officer could afford for his children. All three of us went to the best affordable boarding schools, only to meet for a few days every year, even less after I joined the Merchant Marine. The two brothers would take full advantage of ami jan’s excellent cooking while our sister would not eat anything and remain thin as a stick. Over the years the fondness for the food went away as did many other emotions. Perhaps this is the price we had to pay to be successful and try to achieve what our parents wanted. I was never jealous of his achievements, envious yes, proud yes, never jealous. He told me once that in a military society like ours these things are more visible, what you do is not in front of others.
I always wanted a photograph of the two of us with our father, in our own uniforms. Sadly abu jan left us 16 years ago and my brother on 20th of Feb 2003.
Surprisingly I knew only 3 or 4 of his course mates but he had met almost all of my spoiled sailor friends. What a better tribute than what one of them once said in 1991, “When he becomes the air chief, we will also proudly say that he is our elder brother”. Not a friend’s elder brother but a brother. I have never seen some of those cold hearted sailors cry before as they did now.
When our youngest son, Asim, was about to be born, I was pretty nervous at becoming a father again at 42. He sent me an E-Mail that ‘Bhuraphae ki aulad ka maza hi kutch aur hae, you will really enjoy the youngest one’. Brother you were right. The little redneck Texan gives these old bones a run around but I really enjoy it. Why couldn’t he wait to enjoy Bilal more?
I never knew the others in that Fokker F-27. What I have heard about them makes me realize that our nation has lost some of the best. I only wish my brother was down with flue or whatever to have missed the trip. Perhaps he should have left the air force in 1981 but then he would have been just any other unknown person like me. Some years back after a rather dreadful dream, I asked him to stop flying because of the inherent dangers and that if Allah wanted humans to fly, he would have given them wings. He said that what you do is more dangerous and Allah did not give you fins or gulls!
I am sure had he lived and become what everyone wanted him to be, he would have made a difference. Not all generals and admirals are corrupt.

Bhaijan Rizwan, forgive all my transgressions. Especially after I got annoyed in 1987 when you did not tell me abu jan’s true health condition just before he died.

Other than being brothers, our youngest sons share the same birthday as I do with Seemi.

Seemi, we are all with you in keeping his name alive through the education trust you are starting. We have always been proud of Rizwan.

Imran

ahmadzai

it seems to me that you are leaving chowk for some reason. Not a good idea, we`ll miss ya.

I am sure AC Rizwanullah Khan was every bit as wonderful a person he has been described in this article. The author is probably the only one that can really understand the pain and anguish she suffers from.

Yet look upon the incident from a different angle. Don`t we need a 747 to go down with all of the generals, Admirals and Air Marshals presently(and not too distant past) ruining our land? Lest I be accused of being heartless and off my rocker, pause and think for a minute about the sufferings of the common Pakistani at the hands of these `mard-i-momins` and `shaheens`? While we wax eloquent about the `shahadat` of so many of our best and brightest, the common Pakistani continues to slip lower and lower depths of poverty. It would be far too easy to separate the individual from the institution. Linking the two to grant the individual an exalted status just doesn`t cut it.

later
-sac

P.S: admadzai: Can it. You don`t have the qualifications to pronounce judgement on anyone`s sense of patriotism.

dear samina
your article helped me share this great loss of our officer`s
i am an Air Force brat ,too, my father a retired Air Cdre , currently my older brother an aeronautical engineer ,a Wing Cdre .
i cried alone in saudia ( my surgeon husband , a civilian, for whom all were strangers)
all i could remember was the vacation spent in Kalabagh in late 70`s with Saleem bhai , Ruby baji & their daughters
I am youngest in my family but still remember , our family having known both salemm bhai & ruby baji`s families .
& yes we all said too that oneday he will be Chief of Air Staff, alas`` nazar hi lag gayi``
i don`t how people expect u will get over this loss.
i think in time just the pain will lessen whenever u will think of your husband
i just pray u might be able to start living again for your children
i pray your grief becomes your strength
& remember your husband is always with u , whereever u r , looking out for u.
my fondest regards for a very brave Air Force Widow.

thank you.

This article has brought into open so many Pakistani patriots, who remain in `hiding` as the Indians (and some Indians posing as Pakistanis)thrash Pakistan, its leadership, and keep us on the defensive regarding our principled stance on Kashmir by quoting Kargil everywhere.

Would you guys please come out in the open and contribute with some reasoned posts so that the Indians friends are better able to understand Pakistan`s viewpoint on Kashmir. In any case, following in the footsteps of our beautiful Shaheed, you should be projecting your country in the best of ways.

If you would kindly do that, I, ``only a fringe Pakistani`` would like to take off.

May God enable us to follow in the footsteps of His chosen ones like Mr. Rizwan.

Bye bye. I wish you all the very best of life.

One of the most moving and beautiful articles ever to be posted on Chowk. Period.

Sincerly and with deep respect,

Feroz R. Khan

I am moved by the mutual love, affection and respect of a couple for each other. This lovely narration of a great soldier proves, once again, that STILL there is a hope for Pakistan. I am sure, most of the readers would share my pride and comfort that just a short while ago one of our Shaheens defending our airspace was Rizwan. Not many of us were aware of the fact that the defence of our skies were in so competent hands.

I respectfully agree with the gentleman who wrote, ”Though if it`s anything, he must have been a truly extraordinary man to have his companion celebrate his memory rather than mourn it.” Likewise, I refuse to use this opportunity for merely conveying condolences. No, this would be unfair to Mr Rizwan. Something more substantial must come out of this occasion.

Moreover, thanks to the Internet and forums like Chowk and South Asian Tribune that we ordinary mortals can now register our displeasure as well as convey the message. I want to avail this possibility. Therefore, I take up where hamzan left.

Samina Sahiba, as you know, in most of the cases, the moral decay among officers of the armed forces accelerates after acquiring star(s) on their limos. Examples like (respectable) ACM Jamal are extremely scarce in Pakistan.

It is almost impossible to keep your ‘damen’ clean for very long while working in the cesspool – the top layer of the military command in Pakistan. Not only that, it doesn’t take a lot before you cease to notice right or wrong, before the distinction between halal and haram disappears, before ethics, morality and legalities are no more serious concerns. Second, as a colleague, as a member of privileged family, as a ‘peti parra’, as a friend, these fine lines become increasingly blurred. You either become part of the ‘game’, or at best a passive spectator. And the predators wont let you work if you try to rub the status quo.

Very possible, Allah Almighty took Rizwan back because he was too good for all this.

See, there are many who consider Musharraf as a dead honest person. This man squandered at least 3.5 billion PRs of taxpayers’ money (according to the Chief Election Commission) only on his personal canvassing campaign during that infamous, illegal, unlawful referendum, to which no one gives a damn.
What is a difference between him and Asif Zardari?

Being a country manager of Oracle, you might be paying more tax every month than the salary of an Air Commodore. Remember, at the end, the assets accumulated by ACM Khattak, Admiral Mansoor ulHaq, General Akther Rehman (to name only as a specimen) primarily due to the military service (we are not talking about their ‘khandani jageer’ over here, if they ever had any) exceeds by horse lengths in DOLLARS the assets of the country manager Oracle, Switzerland.

ACM Mushaf is highly admired for his command style during the recent standoff with India. Please, observe, he didn’t hesitate to use PAF’s aircraft for the funeral of his mother-in-law, as PAF is his dad’s jageer. The planned wedding of his son at Faisal is now a well-known story. In America, a four-star general was recently reprimanded for deputing a soldier as a bodyguard to his wife for one day on the complaint of a junior officer. In Pakistan, we have battries of guards/servants even for VIP toddlers.

Observe, Musharraf and Mushaf, known as relatively ‘honest’ generals are good for at least 4.2 million USD – ONLY due to the military service. Referendums, nepotism, ‘bandar-bant’ to cronies and family members are in addition to it.

As it wouldn’t be very appropriate to submit a longer reply this one, I have strictly confined myself to only a couple of examples and that’s too regarding financial aspects.

samina, your article was very beautiful and very sad as well; I hope you and your children will be okay..my prayers are with you. I guess this article goes to show that when you write from the heart, you don`t even need to go into the technicalities of grammar and sentence construction etc..words just flow straight from the heart...

wow.. your writing made me feel like I actually knew your husband! a sad loss for our country indeed.

but I will second Hamzan in his comments about our military staff being spoilt.. for too long have I seen abuses of power, even from the lower ranks..