(25 March 1955 - 31 July 2021)
I have been writing memorial posts with varying shades of sadness, melancholy and lamenting heart about friends that were once alive and vibrant. But writing this post today about Arshad Javed Khokhar is altogether different from all my previous posts. We both fell victim to Covid19 at the same time and hospitalized. Although I was very critical, my vaccination saved me from the ventilator. But there he was, suffering on a ventilator. This nailed my heart for he was sturdy and physically in a fine state than I, yet he was in more pain. I saw an old man on ventilator on my first day in the hospital and could feel the pain he was till his bed was wheeled out and came back empty. I saw two more fatalities before I went to a single room. And once there I heard the tragic news of Khokhar succumbing to this deadly disease on 31 July 2021. That was a very low day for me. I thought he would make it out. But death has its own dynamics and it befalls when time is up. As if that was not enough as the sad news hit yet again, this time that of death of Bhabi Sahiba on 4th August. What a tragedy that both heads of a family were gone within days.
"It is said that when a kind, lovable and honest person dies, an angel descends from the Heavens and takes the lucky one under folds of its wings and flies over all over the beautiful places the person has visited. And before ascending to Heaven, it lets him collect a few flowers for him to take to God as a token of thankfulness."
While I came back from the hospital gifted with another lease of life, and Khokhar went up to Heavens with a flower bouquet for God. May both Khokhar and Bhabi Sahiba be blessed in the highest place in Jannah. Ameen.
I remember him from the days when I was ADC in Rawalpindi and residing in the mess on Abid Majid Road. My room used to be a junction point for all course mates visiting Rawalpindi and would often resound with laughter while remembering PMA days and jokes that were attributed to many. Khokhar visited me many a time while he was posted in Kashmir and had lot of tales to narrate. He was a good story teller and would narrate an event with so many juicy details that one would feel being there beside him when the incident happened. I still remember when he narrated me his experience of blowing the head off of an Indian soldier with a sniper rifle. And I could actually feel him firing and his head being blown off.
We then met in Quetta and the above photo is from Staff Course 88 with Khokhar on the left, I standing next to him and the two American officers, Joe and Mac (I hope this was his name). Khokhar, as witty he was, would often mock Joe that he being an infantry officer could not climb the rope. And would then secretly ask, "Are you from Army or CIA." And then both would burst into laughter.
Good days to remember: Marriages of daughters of Khokhar in Lahore
Khokhar was one of the most dedicated, diehard, motivated and bold officers of our course. Always ready to take a weapon and go fighting on the border.
He would be the center to any heated discussion if it involved enemies of Pakistan and vehemently defended the case of Pakistan in his very own way and style. His ardent love for Pakistan was exhibited by him having painted the national flag on the main gate of his house.
A memorable photo of Askari X, Lahore where Athar, Ali Akbar, Abbas and Khokhar stop for a snap
A collection of photos with Khokhar
The burial of Khokhar - a man who was so proud of his land and was always ready and willing to die for it. With heavy hearts, many of Lahore Chapter brothers gathered together to him final farewell, may he and Bhahbi Sahiba be blessed for they succumbed to a disease that has left behind many sad tales and goodbyes.
The final trumpet blows "Taps": Athar and Zahir bid farewell to a friend who now sleeps forever
With the departure of Khokhar, we have lost yet another comrade, a friend, a noble and loving human being to Covid-19 after Alizai and Khalid Mahmood. Please brace yourself against all diseases, especially Covid-19, for it is one hell of a deadly diseases, consumes away a living being within days. If not vaccinated, get it done tomorrow or if there is still time today for it can prevent from the severity of disease.
May Allah bless Arshad Javed Khokhar 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.
