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On a pleasant afternoon of October 1997 at Jhelum, a tonga entered from the main gate of 46 Supply and Transport (S&T) Battalion and stopped in front of the unit office area. A tall handsome young man with thick moustaches dismounted with a typical black military trunk. Most awaited, second parental officer of the unit, Second Lieutenant Abdul Wahid Danish, had arrived. All the officers of the unit including myself received him. It was the beginning of a journey that culminated at his shahadat on February 7, 2014. He was an upright, straight forward and clear-headed officer with an abundant courtesy. His conduct and approach towards professionalism was quoted as an example for the young officers. With a sober sense of humour, his light jokes would always make us laugh. The battalion was desperately waiting for Major Danish to take over the responsibilities as next Commanding Officer being parental officer, as he was being considered in the Promotion Board-2014. We both spoke to each other on February 7, 2014 at 1445 hours to know about his willingness to assume the command of the unit. Calm and contended as he was, he said, ―Sir, as Allah wills‖. I tried to convince him to give preference to his parent unit. He promised to call me at night or the next morning. I was not knowing that that morning would never come.
Next afternoon I received a phone call, not from Danish but about Danish. I could not believe; he was fighting for his life in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), in Lahore. To my luck, I was in Rawalpindi and went to see him with all the hopes and prayers. All his memories flashed back while crossing the river Jhelum; my lips moving faster, praying to Allah for his life. As I reached the hospital in Lahore, I saw Maj Danish lying straight, unconscious. The flowers outside his room, the people visiting him and all well-wishers were praying for his long life. Seeing the pain in the eyes of his mother, brothers and family, I recalled his association with his family. Maj Danish was a responsible son, supportive brother, affectionate father and a caring husband. His day would start in a routine with light mood, his daughter Ayesha normally patting his back and giggling. Overflowed with love, Danish would tell his wife, ―My day has begun.‖ There were days in routine when his family found lunch awaiting them, ordered by Danish. When asked by his wife, the caring reply would be, ―I thought you should relax today.‖ On the fateful day of his shahadat, his wife asked him about his wellbeing as a routine at about 1745 hours, and his reply was, ―All OK. Pray for my success. Allah Hafiz.'
It was last conversation between the husband and wife. Allah had decided a higher pedestal for him and a test of endurance for the family. Danish had carried out many successful operations during his two-year tenure while being in the ISI and had given serious blows to the anti-state elements and saved many lives. Few days before his shahadat, he was working on a few elements closely linked with the terrorists. In order to nab them and their masters, he encircled the terrorists in the surroundings of Khanewal on February 7, 2014. While he was trying to arrest them, he was hit by a bullet in the head from a point-blank range. Maj Danish fell on ground and the terrorist tried to run away. The cover force deployed by Maj Danish followed the terrorist, who ultimately blew himself up before being arrested. During the encounter, one extremist was killed while the third one was apprehended.
Maj Danish was given first aid treatment in District Headquarters Hospital Vihari and was evacuated in a helicopter to the CMH, Lahore. He was in a state of coma and was operated upon immediately, however the doctors declared next 48 hours crucial for him. After two days, he gave few positive signs, and breathed for 50 seconds without ventilator. Next day he moved his head and foot when a wet cloth was put on his eyes. In the similar struggle to recover, his health kept deterioriating while doctors declared his brain clinically dead. All were waiting and praying for a miracle to happen but Allah had planned an eternal life for him in Heavens. He left us at 2055 hours on February 16, 2014 for the highest award. Maj Danish had saved Punjab from yet another tragic incident by laying down his life. He was different and unique. He lived like an example to be quoted and gave his life for Pakistan. He is the hero of entire nation. May Allah be with his family and his son Awaiz and daughter Ayesha. In recognition of his services for the country, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan conferred him ‗Tamgha-i-Basalat‘ posthumously on March 23, 2014.
By: Lt Col Fahd Bin Sultan
Next afternoon I received a phone call, not from Danish but about Danish. I could not believe; he was fighting for his life in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), in Lahore. To my luck, I was in Rawalpindi and went to see him with all the hopes and prayers. All his memories flashed back while crossing the river Jhelum; my lips moving faster, praying to Allah for his life. As I reached the hospital in Lahore, I saw Maj Danish lying straight, unconscious. The flowers outside his room, the people visiting him and all well-wishers were praying for his long life. Seeing the pain in the eyes of his mother, brothers and family, I recalled his association with his family. Maj Danish was a responsible son, supportive brother, affectionate father and a caring husband. His day would start in a routine with light mood, his daughter Ayesha normally patting his back and giggling. Overflowed with love, Danish would tell his wife, ―My day has begun.‖ There were days in routine when his family found lunch awaiting them, ordered by Danish. When asked by his wife, the caring reply would be, ―I thought you should relax today.‖ On the fateful day of his shahadat, his wife asked him about his wellbeing as a routine at about 1745 hours, and his reply was, ―All OK. Pray for my success. Allah Hafiz.'
It was last conversation between the husband and wife. Allah had decided a higher pedestal for him and a test of endurance for the family. Danish had carried out many successful operations during his two-year tenure while being in the ISI and had given serious blows to the anti-state elements and saved many lives. Few days before his shahadat, he was working on a few elements closely linked with the terrorists. In order to nab them and their masters, he encircled the terrorists in the surroundings of Khanewal on February 7, 2014. While he was trying to arrest them, he was hit by a bullet in the head from a point-blank range. Maj Danish fell on ground and the terrorist tried to run away. The cover force deployed by Maj Danish followed the terrorist, who ultimately blew himself up before being arrested. During the encounter, one extremist was killed while the third one was apprehended.
Maj Danish was given first aid treatment in District Headquarters Hospital Vihari and was evacuated in a helicopter to the CMH, Lahore. He was in a state of coma and was operated upon immediately, however the doctors declared next 48 hours crucial for him. After two days, he gave few positive signs, and breathed for 50 seconds without ventilator. Next day he moved his head and foot when a wet cloth was put on his eyes. In the similar struggle to recover, his health kept deterioriating while doctors declared his brain clinically dead. All were waiting and praying for a miracle to happen but Allah had planned an eternal life for him in Heavens. He left us at 2055 hours on February 16, 2014 for the highest award. Maj Danish had saved Punjab from yet another tragic incident by laying down his life. He was different and unique. He lived like an example to be quoted and gave his life for Pakistan. He is the hero of entire nation. May Allah be with his family and his son Awaiz and daughter Ayesha. In recognition of his services for the country, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan conferred him ‗Tamgha-i-Basalat‘ posthumously on March 23, 2014.
By: Lt Col Fahd Bin Sultan
