Remembering Shafiq Anwar

 

(10 February 1954 - 26 February 2013)

We had had hardly settled down after the death of our dear Abdus Samad on 22nd February, when yet another sad day in the life of our course came four days later on 26th February 2013 when our dear friend and comrade Shafiq Anwar also bade us farewell and left for his heavenly abode.  He was buried in DHA Islamabad Phase II graveyard. At the time of his death, he was building his house in DHA Islamabad - but could not see its completion. 

 

Friends always: Aslam Javed and Shafiq Anwar

Whatever I recall of Shafiq was a smiling face always and extremely friendly human being, friend and a lively course mate. Since he was from Signals, I requested Aslam Javed to share his view and association with Shafiq. Aslam recalls that Shafiq Anwar and my self  remained very close since PMA. He was simple BA and yet joined Sigs on my request. Life keep on going and we were in contact. 

After retirement, Shafiq was inducted in NADRA in 2003 and was there till his last day. After retirement, Shafiq was inducted in NADRA in 2003 and was there till his last day. I used to visit his office invariably .He was very helpful to all course mates and his colleagues. One day I visited his office with my CEO. During the discussion he told my CEO about me that he is the one whom I trust more than my brothers. 

President and COAS General Pervez Musharraf presenting  souvenir to Shafiq during his visit to NADRA headquarters

Once I vested NADRA office in 2012 and met Shafiq and stayed with for quite a long time. He gave me a hint of his ailment but never gave any impression of the severity of his disease. He took me for lunch and we kept sharing the days of PMA and thereafter.

Shafiq was suffering from liver cancer and was admitted in CMH, Rawalpindi. NADRA offered for treatment aboard. In fact the chairman NADRA, to whom Shafiq was his PSO, had made arrangements to send him as a employee of NADARA in Pakistan Embassy in UK. All formalities had been completed, but before his departure, his doctor in UK asked fresh test reports of disease. After seeing the reports the doctor opined that it was too late for him to travel to UK as he was at the last stage of his ailment. Thus Shafiq decided to die in Pakistan rather than UK. And so he bade his family farewell when the angel of death approached him, wearing his usual smile he had all along his life.

Perhaps one of the very few last photos of Shafiq (shared by Aslam Javed) - a weary yet smiling Shafiq Anwar, bravely battling his deadly disease,

Syed Ateeq Hussain remembers Shafiq in these very words:

Thank you Jalal for sharing memories of a great brother and friend. May Allah bless his soul in the world he has joined  and create  Kushaadgi for his family in this world. We were room mates in MCS Mess for about a year. He was a knowledgeable person as we indulged in long conversations in evening walks we had together. He had great aesthetic sense contrary to the name given to him. He loved beauty and went for  beautiful things, whether words or ideas, dress items or perfumes and in other aspects. He had a beautiful soul and beauty was his weakness. He had great love for his father and elder brother and often talked about them. And yes, Aslam was his another weakness. In the last days of his sickness, I called him once. He disclosed his true state but I found him at peace. He was one of the few I was a bit closer with, the two others being great Durrani and lovely brother Tariq. May Allah bless them all.

May Allah bless all our departed brothers and bless them highest place in Jannah. Ameen.

Please refer to our Reference Page to read about all those of us who have left us midway for their Heavenly abode.