In Memory of Muhammad Abdul Qadir Khan Shahid

 

 

It was a cold January morning, 29th January 2021 to be exact when I received a phone call. All untimely phone calls are always shocking and carry sad news. When I picked up, it was one of the attendants of Muhammad Abdul Qadir Shahid. Somehow, I knew what he was to say and I was damn right when he told me that Shahid Sahib is no more. Stunned, I drove over to his house, calling Ikram Kiyani en route. We both almost arrived simultaneously at Shahid's house in DHA Phase II, Islamabad. No family member was at home as Bhabi Sahiba had gone to Sialkot to his son, major in the army. We stayed there for a while and then left. Later around noon when Shahid's family arrived, we again visited and by that time things were managed and people were coming and going to console Shahid's son.  Then among a large number of course mates, Shahid was handed over to the mother earth, ending a long association with one of the finest officers of our course.

Enjoying the last snowfall of PMA as Seniors - Shahid stands tall

I did not know Shahid intimately during the first two terms in PMA. But in the third term reshuffling of platoons and cadets, we received Shahid Qadir along with Nauman, Samad, Rashid, Ikram, Shigri, Qadri and Shams. He soon became a very active member of our platoon and was always forthcoming in helping others in studies and even during exercises.

Herein under are two memorable photos of Ex Qiyadat where we dug a 9 feet trench as platoon headquarters that accommodated five of us.

Posing as Nawab Sahib was spotted with his camera guys: Shahid, Masood, Mujeeb, Yunis and Jalal

Shahid educating us on tactical situations before the visit of the platoon commander. When the platoon commander came, he asked where the other trenches of platoon headquarters were. Shahid answered, "Sir this is all the platoon headquarters."  Were it in first term, we all would have been sorted out well and proper. But at the fag end of the final term, the platoon commander just smiled and walked off.

The memorable Tariq Seniors 1 with our platoon commanded Major Talat Umar, Sitara-e-Jurrat, Shahid standing fifth from right

Mine Joining the Ack Ack Artillery was entirely attributed to Shahid. When in the final term choices were being asked, Shahid asked me to give one of my choices as Ack Ack Artillery. And he named a few units for the purpose of choice. Why Ack Ack, for his father was also from Ack Ack Artillery and had not only commanded a unit but had also taken it to Jordan.

 

In photo above, Shahid's father is shaking hands with young King Hussain of Jordan (left) and introducing his officers to the king in the photo on the right.

And there is an interesting anecdote attached to my choice. When I got my first choice which was 6 LAA Regt, one day late Javed Baloch walked into my room. Unknown to me, he too had given the choice of the same unit which I had, for he knew that the unit was to move from Karachi to Sargodha within six months and being from Sargodha the unit suited him well. And when he walked over to me, he said: You have robbed the unit of my choice and a chance to be near my village. And from then on, whenever we met, he would always recall our conversation in hearty and light mood and even tell others around, especially his family that 'this is the man who robbed me of my first choice in PMA.' And we would laugh remembering our PMA days.

Karachi get together 1st October 1999

A dimly captured photo of Boys night out at Artillery Mess - Shahid stands third from left

The above photo is of a few of us when got together in the Artillery Mess of Rawalpindi on an all-boys night out to reminisce the memories, remembering those who left us too early and of the days we were together - same age, same aspirations, same goals and same dreams. Although these so many years have gone past so quickly and these go falling in the fading light, drifted into the time passages, yet their memories are still as fresh as when we're passing through these each day, recalling days when were just young boys and now with grey hair (or in some cases no hair), we have nothing but memories that reverberate deep within us when we have once again become part of the crowd - but hinged to the memories that we so eagerly want to get back to.

Islamabad Club 24 May 2012: A mini get together was held in Islamabad Club for which Nauman and Khalid Javed had come from Lahore. And When Nauman and Mujeeb are together, others  (Shahid Qadir and Arshad) are sure to burst into mouthful of laughter. Seeing this photo, Mirza Saeed remarked: “Lagta hai Siddiqui Bhai nay koi lambhi choori hai!! “

In the memory of good days: Naveed (who is presently in Canada) called on Major General Shahid in his office in Malir Cantonment on one of his visits to Pakistan and was presented with the Division’s memento. Major General Munawar also happened to be in attendance.

A memorable group photo at GTG at Abbottabad - Shahid stands in the middle while late Shams can also be seen standing extreme left

Shahid, has set sights on higher echelons of the army right from the outset. He was among the first very few officers who went on secondment to Saudi Arabia, then after his promotion to Lieutenant Colonel had a stint as DS in Command and Staff College and finally rising to two stars. By this time all has gone well. But then he fell seriously ill while on leave in Karachi. For a while he was restricted to wheel chair, but then was brought to Rawalpindi and underwent extensive therapy at AFIRM. I continued to make contact with him and even arranged call on with platoon mates and others to his house.

 

But every passing day he was losing health and in his last days he was but a skeleton. And had been to hospital many times. And then the day finally came when he left us forever and we lost one of the finest officers, brother, friend and a course mate forever.

One of the last photos of Shahid when I along with a number of brothers called on him. There was a group photo too, but I misplaced it.

And while I was writing this post, I received yet another sad news of Syed Khalid Mehmood also saying Khuda Hafiz to us and boarding his Heavenly flight. A sad day today indeed.

May Allah bless Muhammad Abdul Qadir Khan Shahid and all our course mates who have left us earlier than us and rest their souls in peace up in the heavens. Ameen. 

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