Farewell Sheikh Khalid Masood: Today the world is one less of smiling faces

(3 July 1955 - 1 November 2024)

Today was yet another sad day for us, the 55th PMA Long Course veterans, specially the comrades of Khalid-4/Tariq-1 platoons of PMA's first and final term when we lose yet another brother of ours, Sheikh Khalid Masood. It came rather as a surprise as he nurtured no wounds nor ever hurt anyone. He was all smiles always whether during the rigours of PMA days or the life thereafter both within and without the uniform. Always cheering others, extending a helping hand and bringing smiles on others' faces, today he robs us of the smiles and leaves us for his heavenly abode. His death came just after our dear Iqbal aka Bala breathed his last recently after prolonged illness on 12 October 2024.

Year 2024 has been the deadliest of all previous years as during this year, five brothers bade goodbye to us and their families to take their heavenly flights. Masood was the last of the five.

Khalid was one of the most friendly and loving platoon mates of ours in Khalid 4 and later in Tariq 1. His smile was a morale booster for all of as even during rigours of PMA training and  to keep his memories alive:. Despite his rather bulky stature, he was physically and mentally too robust who ran like a wild horse on the one mile track during PT periods and other physical events like the assault course and 9 mile run.

I share herein under some of the photographs of PMA and the life thereafter to keep memories of Khalid Masood alive:

The first ever group photo of K-4 (Khalid Masood sits fourth from the left) - the phot also includes Safdar Jahanzab (standing extreme left), ex GC Zafar (standing 6th from the left) Iqbal (siting on ground third from the left) shoulder ex GC Dr Amir Mansoor who have also taken their heavenly flights earlier.

Almost  the entire platoon photographed at Kot Najib Ullah RS during the first time exercise Yarmuk with our platoon commander Captain (later Brigadier) Ghulam Nabi. Khalid Masood stands extreme left.

First snowfall in early second term brought us out to the delight of Nawab Sahib. Khalid Masood stands second from the left. Others include Janjua, Naveed, Jalal and Naveed Akbar.

The battered faces after the second term boxing. K-4 posing with platoon commander Captain Ghulam Nabi. Khalid Masood sits third from the left. Good old Bala, now no more, stands extreme left.

An Engineered  Photo’

This photograph of some of us was being taken in the First Pakistan Battalion Mess as normal front facing  shot – but I suggested to make it ‘informal’ looking photo as we were in a conversation. So we all turned right and left gesturing our hands (you can feel the artificiality of gestures of out hands) while we were ‘shot’ – it turned out to be good photo. Khalid Masood stand next to me, besides Jamshed, Razaq and Naveed Minhas.

Mujib and Masood posing with the new army outfit of camouflage jackets

Final Term Snowfall : Masood – Shahid – Arshad – Tassawar – Mujeeb – Nauman. We lost Abdul Qadir Khan Shahid too during these years

Ex Qiyadat: Shahid, Masood, Mujeeb, Younis and Jalal in our 9-feet trench

Punjab Regimental Center, Mardan

Standing: Murad, Razaq, Noor, Jalal, Arshad, Shahid, Tassawar, Maj Umer, Masood, GM, Naveed, Samad, Mujeeb, Nauman

Sitting: Qadri, Rashid, Kiyani, Younis, Shams

The Final Term Tariq Seniors-1 - Masood stands second from the right. The photo also includes Shams (sitting extreme right) and Abdul Qadir Shahid (standing 5th from right) whom Masood has gone to join in their heavenly abode.

After our passing out inn April 1977, Khalid Masood joined the regiment of Artillery but was always in touch with most of us despite the poor almost non existent means of communication., which still hangs in some corner of his house. I attended his marriage in Lahore and presented him with a hand drawn calligraphy on goat skin which still hangs in some corner of his house. The last I met was in DHA Head Office Lahore where he was employed after retirement and we had a hearty chat on a hot cup of tea.

Perhaps the first ever get together of Lahore Chapter in Zahir Khan's office on 4 February 2008: It was a ‘well attended’ get together at Zahir Khan’s office, on my visit to Lahore and Zahir got together many course mates including visiting Canadians Naveed Akbar and Jamil Bravo (Tahir had not yet gone to Canada). From this day onward, Zahir’s office was the venue of many such occasions for as long as he remained at Lahore.

Standing (left to right): DIG Abid Qadri – Tassawar – Athar – Alizai – Abbas – Naveed Akbar – Sultan – Jamil – Javed Iqbal

Sitting (left to right):      Tahir – Zahir – Jalal – Masood – Khalid Javed - Rauf

And thus a journey of comradeship spanned over a period of 49 years that commenced in May 1975 with Sheikh Khalid Masood finally ended on 1 November 2024. Masood suffered a cardiac arrest and was taken to CMH where he breathed his last at about 1400 hours. The news of his demise spread instantly on all forums. I being away to Munich Germany received a call from Mujib, who too is away in England, and came to know the tragic news. 

Masood was finally buried at about 2200 hours, leaving the world one less of ever smiling faces. A large number of course mates from Lahore attended the funeral and the burial. Some of the photos of his burial are as under. It was nice of all platoon mates of Khalid-4 / Tariq 1 to lay a wreath on behalf of all the platoon mates. 

The overwhelming sentiments of the course mates are pouring in all course forums which speak of love our late brother Masood enjoyed in the fraternity. I am sharing a few comments to pay homage to our dearest Sheikh Khalid Masood:

Message by Baqar:

ابھی اپنے ایک پرانے CO کرنل اعجاز رفیع (  کورس میٹ سر وحید ٹونی، ٹیپو کمپنی) کے بڑے بھائی کی نماز جنازہ پڑھکر آیا ہوں اور آتے ہی برادر عزیز شیخ خالد مسعود کے اچانک وصال کی خبر نےدل مزید دکھی کر دیا۔ موت ایک حقیقت ھے اور ہر ذی روح کو آنی ھے پھر بھی بعض لوگوں  کی جدائی ایسی ہوتی ھے کہ دل ماننے کو تیار نہیں ہوتا۔ خالد مسعود ایک نیک دل، خوش مزاج، ھنس مکھ اور  دلچسپ شخصیت تھا جسکی کمی ہمیشہ محسوس کیجائیگی۔ اللہ پاک سے دعا ھے کہ شیخ خالد مسعود کے گناہ صغیرہ و کبیرہ معاف فرمائے، اسکی آنیوالی منازل آسان کرے اور اسے جنت الفردوس میں اپنے جوار رحمت میں اعلی' مقام عطا فرمائے۔ اللہ کریم سے مزید دعا ھے کہ پسماندگان خاص کر ہماری بہن اور بیٹیوں کو صبر دے اور  یہ عظیم صدمہ برداشت کرنے کی ہمت و حوصلہ دے۔ آمین یا رب العالمین

Message by Ikram Kiyani:

رات کے دس بج گے ہیں۔ہمارے ہردل عزیز شیخ خالد مسعود کے جسدِخاکی کو عزیزواقارب آخری ٹھکانے کی جانب لے جا .رہے ہونگے۔یہی زندگی کی سب سے بڑی حقیقت ہے

خالد4/ طارق۱والوں کی لئے ایک ماہ  کے اندر دوسرا وچھوڑا۔یار ابھی تو بالے کی قبر کی مٹی گیلی تھی کہ اس نے شیخو کوبھی بلا لیا۔شاید دنیا کی طرح ادھر بھی سنگی ڈھونڈتے ہیں

بزمِ جہاں میں جن سے اجالا تھا اے اجل

تونے کہاں وہ چاند کے ٹکڑے چھپا دیئے

Message from Asghar Javed Shirazi:

After retirement his life took on a new sense of purpose; he found solace in prayer and walks and was always engaged in good deeds. Every encounter, whether going to or from the Mosque, left me with a sense of peace, as he would share words of wisdom and comfort.

The 55 PMA Long Course has lost a true comrade, and I have lost a dear friend. May Allah bless his soul forever. Rest in peace, Khalid Masood. Your legacy of kindness, compassion, and service to the nation will live on in our hearts.

Nauman Siddiqui (Final Term roommate of Khalid Masood):

Khalid Masood has departed, leaving all of us saddened. Khalid would always be found smiling, even amidst the darkest hours. For quite some years now, his routine centered around the mosque and his house. For seven months he would be in Murree , where he also followed the same routine. In fact, he had just returned from Murree, by road, before his flight to heaven was called.

Message by Sir Ateeq:

 'O Allah, forgive Shaikh Khalid Masood and raise him in status among those who are guided, and take care of his family who are left behind. Forgive us and him, O Lord of the Worlds, make his grave spacious for him, and illuminate it for him.'"

(Words of dua (Except the name) are the words of the Holy Prophet (S) - Sahih Muslim, Chapter#12 Hadith#5.)

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May Allah bless Sheikh Khalid Masood 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.