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I tried my best to look for this article on this forum, if it has been posted before please merge it but let us all remember these brave shaheeds in our prayers
A national hero already forgotten
“WE found his body parts in different parts of the compound”, recounts constable Ghulam Murtaza, a close friend and colleague of the 30-year-old Faisal Khan, pointing towards the spots. The hero was blown up to smithereens holding on to the suicide bomber who tried to enter the G-7 police special branch on March 23. “He saved all of us, if it weren’t for what Faisal Khan did, we would have all been dead that day,” Mr Murtaza said.
“He was a dutiful and an extremely simple man. He loved to play basketball and badminton,” he said. Faisal Khan’s parents were no longer alive and he had no family of his own. They were in total six brothers and one sister. His younger brother, Shah Khalid, who is based in Dubai, was very close to him. He said Faisal Khan was a gold medalist in basketball. “He won a gold medal for Under-17 basketball tournament. He was very interested in this sport,” Mr Khalid added. His older brother said he was a happy go lucky man and was called ‘malang’. “At home we called him ‘badsha’ he enjoyed light food his favourite was barbeque chicken and was an avid drinker of tea. He always wanted to be part of the army or police … he was very duty minded.” “Faisal Khan wanted to achieve something great. Even when the terrorist attack on Sri Lankan cricket team took place at Liberty Market, Lahore, he used to say that he would want to die in the line of duty,” said Amanullah, a police officer. And that is certainly what Faisal achieved. Despite the poor conditions of the police and the faulty hierarchic and bureaucratic system in the police force, he sank with his ship. But was he acknowledged by the state as a hero? Certainly not. Prime Minister’s adviser on Interior Senator Rehman Malik had announced Rs150,000 for his family — which is a measly amount for someone’s life — for someone who sacrificed his life for others and is nothing less than a national hero. So sad is the situation that the police have to submit a recommendation for an award ‘Hilal-i-Jurrat’ and more money for his brave feat.
The G-7 special police branch building is a poorly kept place.
Even after the blast the compound has scanty security. The entrance has a guard behind a barricade of blue sacks of sand. A line of barbed wire is all by way of its defence.
As I left the compound I saw a young bearded boy with a badminton bag by his side raising his hands in prayer. “I used to come here for my Asr prayer, I got to know Faisal Khan over time…he was a very decent man … quiet and kind, when I found out he had died I was just deeply saddened.” My day at the police station was interesting and eerie at the same time. I met a lot of po lice officers who knew Faisal and then a couple of those who came to visit the police station.
A security analyst happened to have arrived just when I was leaving and he mentioned how he had insisted that they beef up their security with the mounting threats. “But they always said they didn’t have funds.” This points to yet another variable- the lack of investment by the government in the police force.
The compound was silent and in the corner where they found the largest part of Faisal’s body was now a kind of memorial in the making, a sheath and a few bunches of flowers lay there. The policemen came out quietly as I interviewed various people, they stood silently.
There was a strong sense of loss. They expressed their gratitude for the fact that someone was covering the heroic story of Faisal Khan’s sacrifice. I actually felt ashamed that someone who should be counted as a national hero has hardly been acknowledged -probably like many others.
Sadly the state too has not shown its appreciation of such a man who saved the lives of so many especially in a time when they are most ill-equipped and the prime targets”. Just think about it how many people would have done what he did? He could have run away but he didn’t when he saw the threat he dealt with it,” said Faisal’s brother.
It's individuals like Faisal Khan who make the difference but get little acknowledgement. When will the government realise that their faces are saved from public humiliation because of the sacrifice of many Faisal Khans.
A national hero already forgotten
“WE found his body parts in different parts of the compound”, recounts constable Ghulam Murtaza, a close friend and colleague of the 30-year-old Faisal Khan, pointing towards the spots. The hero was blown up to smithereens holding on to the suicide bomber who tried to enter the G-7 police special branch on March 23. “He saved all of us, if it weren’t for what Faisal Khan did, we would have all been dead that day,” Mr Murtaza said.
The G-7 special police branch building is a poorly kept place.
Even after the blast the compound has scanty security. The entrance has a guard behind a barricade of blue sacks of sand. A line of barbed wire is all by way of its defence.
As I left the compound I saw a young bearded boy with a badminton bag by his side raising his hands in prayer. “I used to come here for my Asr prayer, I got to know Faisal Khan over time…he was a very decent man … quiet and kind, when I found out he had died I was just deeply saddened.” My day at the police station was interesting and eerie at the same time. I met a lot of po lice officers who knew Faisal and then a couple of those who came to visit the police station.
A security analyst happened to have arrived just when I was leaving and he mentioned how he had insisted that they beef up their security with the mounting threats. “But they always said they didn’t have funds.” This points to yet another variable- the lack of investment by the government in the police force.
The compound was silent and in the corner where they found the largest part of Faisal’s body was now a kind of memorial in the making, a sheath and a few bunches of flowers lay there. The policemen came out quietly as I interviewed various people, they stood silently.
There was a strong sense of loss. They expressed their gratitude for the fact that someone was covering the heroic story of Faisal Khan’s sacrifice. I actually felt ashamed that someone who should be counted as a national hero has hardly been acknowledged -probably like many others.
Sadly the state too has not shown its appreciation of such a man who saved the lives of so many especially in a time when they are most ill-equipped and the prime targets”. Just think about it how many people would have done what he did? He could have run away but he didn’t when he saw the threat he dealt with it,” said Faisal’s brother.
It's individuals like Faisal Khan who make the difference but get little acknowledgement. When will the government realise that their faces are saved from public humiliation because of the sacrifice of many Faisal Khans.
