The Nation's Pride

"And say not of those who are slain in the Way of God: 'They are dead'. Nay, they are living, Though you perceive it not". (Qur'an 2:154) (In loving memory of Captain Omerzeb, TBt (Shaheed) - who met Shahadat on 21st May, 2009 at Lower Dir during Operation Rah-e-Rast.).
The morning of May 21, 2009 dawned as normal, not knowing that another few hours will change the entire spectrum of me and my family's life. Who knew that another few hours Allah Almighty has selected the most blessed of my sons and is all set to receive him as Shaheed in the Heavens. Like usual I was on my way to my office in Islamabad, I got few calls on my mobile and all inquired about Captain Omerzeb - my son, as to how he was, since his unit was operating in Swat area fighting out the Taliban and their cronies. Since I had talked to Omerzeb the last night, I was told that he was OK and in very high spirits. I was completely oblivious that the news of his Shahadat had already been aired on a TV Channel.
These calls were made having heard that news, but none could reveal this news to me knowing that I was not in the knowledge when finally, while still on move I received another call from one of my cousins, Major Nasir, who picked up courage and revealed the news and said that he had confirmed from unit as well. My nerves were cool by Allah's blessings, applied brakes and parked the car on the side, came out, took deep breaths, looked up at the sky, and the first thing I said, "Sanchu (his pal name), this is what you always wanted and Allah did not disappoint you here as well".
The tears rolled down my cheeks, for a while I was just blank but soon Allah blessed me with tremendous courage and I thanked Allah for choosing the dearest of my sons and honouring him with such a great name of "Shaheed" and me as father of Shaheed who himself is a Ghazi of 1971 war but was not lucky enough for this honour.
Captain Omerzeb was performing as Adjutant of 9 Azad Kashmir Regiment and while moving with his Commanding Officer on a rescue mission in Lower Dir area (Swat) got trapped in the mines (IEDs) laid up by the miscreants, resulting in big explosion. The vehicle got totally smashed and Captain Omerzeb along with the driver and wireless operator embraced Shahadat on the spot. The Commanding Officer who was driving the vehicle escaped miraculously with minor injuries. Alhamd-o-Lillah he is back to his Command with added vigour and spirits.
On my way back to my house, I could all along see my Shaheed son; how he grew, his early schooling, his adulthood, his passion for military life and just four years of a highly charged commissioned officer. All this passed like an eye wink. Today on the first anniversary of his Shahadat, I wish to share with the readers as to how he grew to receive the coveted award of Shaheed.
Captain Omerzeb was born in 1984 at CMH Rawalpindi. He was the third son to his parents. Omerzeb was very healthy weighing eight & half pounds on his birth with broad eyes and smiling face. He was sparklingly handsome. Anyone who would look at him could never resist kissing him. He grew as a very playful and cheering lad. I hardly remember him unnecessarily crying or bewailing. I vividly remember in one of the mixed gatherings in the mess I was carrying Omerzeb, one of a senior officers while looking at Omerzeb remarked, "Afzal, I don't mind having 12 sons like this boy".
MashaAllah, Omerzeb was stunningly good-looking and attractive. Somehow he would get overjoyed on wearing colourful and smartly fitted clothes - a habit which remained with him always. As a youngest son and brother he always got special attention not only from the parents but the whole family. His broad manly looks, smartly dressed and charged agility with lots of mannerism made him a very sought after young boy with children and elders alike. His early schooling at Iqra Academy Quetta, Presentation Convent Murree, Army Public Schools at Sialkot and Peshawar went very rewarding for his personality building.
All along he was very extrovert and took full participation in outdoor activities. Omerzeb was visible everywhere and had a good collection of prizes and certificates. An interesting thing about him was that he would do exceedingly well when put under competition with someone. On one such occasion when studying at Army Public College Rawalpindi, one of his class fellows, who was a good English debater, challenged him.
He accepted the challenge and started preparing for the debate, the first of his student life. He certainly was a bit nervous initially but with a little motivation and counselling as how to start preparation, he got on to his tempo and prepared with the help of English teachers from various other colleges, all at his own and finally came up with an excellent script.
He rehearsed this script over dozens of times in front of mirror, in front of me, his friends and added style to his delivery. He prepared it exceedingly well and on the day of competition - he won and was declared the best debater of the year 2002. He was selected as General Secretary English Debating Society as well.
This is how he grew-all committed, focused and exactly knew about his aim and how to accomplish that. Never ever I received any complaint from anywhere - his teachers, friends, neighbours or any family member. I never chased him for studies, he never tutioned except once and that too for a short while. As his FSc was about to finish, I asked about his future move, his answer was (and I knew well) "Army is my only choice".
He had all along been crazy about Army. He would, as a young boy very often put on my uniform and behave like an army officer. Army had been his dream. Of course, his mother always sided with him in joining the Army. He appeared for 111 Long Course and got selected. His stay at Military Academy witnessed many ups and downs. His extrovert and friendly nature made him a popular cadet of his course. He somehow could never fall in the category of disciplined cadets and therefore was first in getting de-stripped in his course. He very often remained on evening punishment rolls because of his frankness with staff, over protection of his colleagues, cranking of jokes and such like activities which were more fun oriented and livery. Omerzeb and the punishment dress remained very friendly to each other at the Academy.
The good thing was that he remained ever smiling under much stressed moments, took these tough times like a man and passed out as a Gentleman cadet in 2005. On his Passing Out day, one of his Platoon Commanders whom I met remarked about him "Sir, Omerzeb is very different, this boy will rise very high. But he has to show more seriousness towards his profession". Omerzeb standing next to me listened, smiled and his inner challenge accepting nature whispered something which he kept up in his mind till last. He joined 9 Azad Kashmir Regiment as 2nd Lieutenant.
2nd Lieutenant Omerzed worked very hard in his unit, earned great confidence of his seniors and participated in all activities of the unit with lots of motivation. On his basic course at School of Infantry and Tactics, he got AX grade. This performance he repeated on the 120 MM Mortar Course. He got promoted as Captain and was appointed Adjutant of the Battalion, a chair which every young officer cherishes.
He would daily talk to every member of the family and express his respect and love to everyone. His extrovert nature made him a lovely member of the mess and cantonment functions. He was a very good singer, a prolific anchor and a dramatist. These virtues made him popular among young boys, girls and ladies alike. But somewhere down his heart he had different plans - all together different.
Captain Omerzeb by now had become very mature, very serious in his professional obligations - his battalion and his job was his total life. By now his two elder brothers had got married and it was now his turn. We agreed on his selection of the lady of his heart, and started preparing for a formal mangni (engagement). As I now came to know of his diary and what he wrote in that reflected his burning desire.
Captain Omerzeb was wishing a very dignified journey, a journey which Hazrat Ali wished, a journey which takes you to the apex, a journey which takes you to the destination where you are received by Allah Himself. His battalion was earmarked to move to KPK area where Pakistan Army was fighting the very existence of its country against the terrorists.
These terrorists call themselves as Taliban and Muslim but are most brutal and well trained. They preach Islam in its crudest form. In fact, these terrorists are bigots, atheists and hardened criminals from different nations who hold evil designs against Pakistan. He came home on leave for few days to meet us and we decided to celebrate his mangni during his leave period. He had just stayed a night with us when next morning he was called back to join the battalion since it was to immediately move to Swat.
Same evening we were to solemnise his mangni. All details were set, the girl's parents had made all the arrangements, but there was no option and we had to postpone this event till Omerzeb's next availability - and now he is not. Omerzeb, same morning went back to join his battalion. It was somewhere 1st week of May 2009.
As Adjutant of the Battalion, he was now even more committed but he always made a point to ring us up daily and talk with the family. Verily, he was a highly loved son, a great brother and friend of friends. He was our Sun and we all called him Sunny but to me in particular, he was my Sanchu. He would very regularly talk to his fiancée and must have made castles for their future life.
Another few days rolled down the calendar when his Battalion was tasked to operate in Lower Dir. The unit moved to the given location and now I could vividly see that the telephone calls weighed a totally different tone of Omerzeb. He was highly charged; exceedingly disturbed over the situation in the area, the way Taliban were killing the innocent men, women and children. On many occasions I heard his voice getting heavy - he sounded very confident and always asked for prayers.
I can never forget his last talk once he was fuming like a tiger on the Shahadat of one of his soldiers during an encounter with miscreants. He uttered few more words which I could hardly listen but his anxiety made me worried. I prayed to Allah to save Pakistan from these miscreants and help Pakistan Army to clean up and destroy those who are bent upon harming our beloved country. My son was very tense. Knowing his reactions on such like occasions and his thoughts for the honour of his men, his Battalion, Army and for Pakistan, I was highly watchful and curious to know his Battalion's moves. Being an army officer myself, I could clearly see the battle developments - a battle totally different from what our Army was trained for.
On 21st May 2009, the birthday of his fiancée was approaching. They both had made plans to celebrate it. They would talk on telephone and prayed, if they were together on that day. On 20th night (as I was told later by his fiancée), Omerzeb rang her up and wished her Happy Birthday in 6 different languages (yes! This joker was capable enough to gather this word in different languages, local or foreign from people around) and certainly would have said that he would be there with her next day (21st May) to celebrate her birthday.
YES - he did come but not standing on his feet - he came wrapped in Pakistan Flag placed in a coffin box carried over the shoulders of his comrades in uniform. Captain Omerzeb met Shahadat on 21st May 2009 around 10:00 am. The news of his Shahadat spread like fire through TV Channels by 10:30 pm. The dream that Captain Omerzeb had all his life, Allah made it happen and he went on a journey, where he must have been received by none other then the Creator Himself.
"Allah bless you Omerzeb. You were born as a jewel, you lived as a jewel and you left as a jewel. You will ever remain a paragon. May you live in eternal peace! We all - your parents, brothers, sisters, family members, friends and the nation, feel proud of you and salute you for the honour you gave us, the Pakistan Army and Pakistan".