Lahore Get Together 2016 - Rangers Officers' Mess

The last event of the two days long annual get together, celebrating 41 years of comradeship (1975-2016), at Lahore was the brunch at the Rangers Officers' Mess. Unlike the previous day, the weather spared the organizers to look for the shelter - though the shelter was readily available. The weather wasn't that cool as the sun kept playing hide and seek with the clouds but in a dominating mood. However it allowed us a rollicking time to interact with each other freely, eat and dance on the drum beat of the Rangers' brass band.

By the given time, the lush green lawn of the mess was already full with us while the ladies were perched inside the coolness of the mess. It took us a while for the brunch to commence - enough to exchange pleasantries and snapshots.

Reception by Zahir Khan(above) and meeting other friends (below)

At the brunch tables

 

 

When Shirazi introduced his grand daughter Emaan to Brig Riaz and Col Talat Umar as his instructors in PMA, she asked them how was "he" as a student? - what a thoughtful question by this little philosopher!!

 Post retirement briefing by Ali Akbar to his ex-boss

 

 

 

 

 The following three photos show how a group expands when it comes to taking photos - watch closely:

  Good to see Najib (left) after a long time

With our platoon commander Col Talat Umer, SJ

 Luddi on the Ranger's band

Jamil with Major Sabih Ul Hassan's participation made us feel the presence of his late father, Javed Baloch all around us. May his soul rest in eternal peace. We certainly missed him a lot at the occasion.

Jamil preserving the moments for life

 Course secretary Asif's disposal - always challenging to listen to. But this time Lahore Chapter let him rest completely and absolved him of any responsibility except the accounts

 The last event of the course get together: The presentation of souvenirs, Courtney Lahore Chapter

More souvenir receiving photos as shot by son of Maj Kiani:

And before I forget, here are all those who attended Lahore Get Together (though some are missing who were there last night):

 60 in all including three guests - a great number indeed

So we thank you finally Zahir Khan and your team for getting this great number together at Lahore and arranging all events despite inclement weather. Arranging such a mega event specially when one is out of uniform and the response from various quarters is lukewarm - or even cold at times, Zahir and his team did a wonderful job by planning, organizing and hosting the get together - spread at three venues and on two days. Those who attended it will cherish the memories of Lahore Get Together 2016 for a long time and those who missed it would remember it through these posts which provide a pictorial coverage of each day.

A much relaxed Zahir Khan and his team after a wonderfully organized and hosted get together

While the show is over now, I sincerely believe that many more course mates could have made it, specially from Rawalpindi/Islamabad to honour the gesture of the Lahore Chapter to be their hosts. And this would have made the event more participative and wholesome. Those who did not attend would surely miss it..

Adios my friends till next year - when we meet on some other lawn at some other place. I pray we do not lose anyone from us as we lost our dear Javed Baloch after last year's gathering at Nathiagali. Stay blessed all and continue to pray for each other.

Related posts:

Lahore Get Together 2016 - An Overview
Lahore Get Together 2016: Fifty Fivers at Wagah Border Flag Lowering Ceremony

Lahore Get Together 2016: Course Dinner and Musical Evening

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Lahore Get Together 2016 - An Overview

So finally it was March 12 and without giving any thought to the 'Ides of Mach' and March the 13th, the Fifty Fivers got together at Lahore and enjoyed getting together on three different venues arranged by the hosts Lahore Chapter under the auspices of Zahir Khan and his team.

The idea to host a two day annual get together of the Fifty Fivers by the Lahore Chapter and Lahore was floated by Zahir Khan at Nathiagali get together in 2015 and duly seconded and supported by our good old Javed Baloch, though the Nature did not bless Javed a few days more to be part of the hosts at Lahore as he left for his heavenly abode before the dawn of year 2015. May his soul rest in peace. Aameen.

Zahir Khan and his team

Undeterred by this great setback, Zahir got together a team to prepare for the event ahead. And unknown to many of us, the team went from pillar to post to host the get together at some of the most historical sites of Lahore. It was paucity of funds and typical cold shoulder of the civil bureaucracy that their efforts could not be rewarded as planned and they had to tone down the venues to host the show as planned.

For those who missed the occasion, we witnessed the colourful flag lowering ceremony at Wagah and later a dinner followed by a warm musical evening at the Alhamrah Open Air Theatre at the Gaddafi Stadium on 12th March and brunch at the Rangers Officers' Mess on the following day. Read my subsequent posts exclusive to each event and venue in coming days.

And thus we had a two days of hugs and laughter with each other along with our families, children and even grandchildren - all made possible by Zahir and his team that included Attar, Abbas, Sher Zaman and Khalid Alizai. For administrative arrangements help from Tariq Khan and Zaheer ul Islam made it possible to arrange adequate guest rooms and availability of the Rangers Mess. For arrangements for the dinner and variety programme, Khalid Pervez helped in coordinating with the Alhamra Open Air Theatre.

We all of us enjoyed the hard work by Zahir Khan and his team and support from Tariq, Zaheer and Khalid Pervez for two days. And left Lahore with fond memories of meeting most of the Lahore Chapter. It was also a pleasure to find among ourselves Jamil and Tahir who had come from Canada and Altaf from USA. 

So well done Lahore Chapter - we owe our happiness to you all. Stay blessed...

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