(15 June 1953 - 12 August 2022)
The stop watch for everyone has been clicked on since our birth and it is made to stop when our time is up in the earthly world. That is the day when we are no more anymore for death is an irreversible cessation of our wordily life. Every man or living being has to face this one day when from a living being, we are enshrouded and deposited into our grave. This is the day we see our dear and near ones for the last time when the angel of death takes them away from us. Though it is the will of Allah to take us back when our time comes, yet the pain of missing those, now no more, cannot be expressed in words.
12 August 2022 has been one such day when another good man, brother and comrade of almost five decades breathed his last and bade us farewell forever.
Recalling memories of Munir Butt in PMA, there have been many group photos of Khallid Platoon No. 3 in which Munir figures out. The first photo herein under was taken on the sad departure of our very good brother Shaffi Luq Luq who unfortunately had to leave PMA in the first term:
Tariq Satti, Maten Shaffi Luq Luq, Jhahngir and Munir Butt
Munir stands extreme right on our first Eid at PMA. Others include (from left to right) Tahir Kahlon, Asim Jilani, Akhtar Abbas Janjua, and Alamgir
Munir stands fourth from left with BSM Masoom (late) during boxing days of Second Term
The above two group photos have been shared by Syed Mateen, while the following photos are shared by Jamal Zia of his platoon of Second Term in which Munir is also present:
Major (later Colonel) Shuja Ullah Khan Tarar recalls: Munir was my cadet in PMA. He later served with me in 19 Sind. A very fine officer. May Allah bless his soul. Ameen.
Munir receiving the PT Medal from Commandant PMA (1977)
Therefore, it was no surprise that he was awarded the PT Medal for his superb fitness and robustness. But time takes a heavy toll on us when we start to age and our parts slow down till, we cease to be. Munir had a hard time in his last days, suffering from dementia for long and then finally falling prey to Covid-19.
The PMA Days - Final Term Aurangzeb Company 1977
Seated: CSM Salim, BQMS Saleem, SUO Khalid, Major S A Naqvi (Platoon Commander, ASC),
CJUO Fazal, BSM Farooq, CQMS Mohsin
Standing (first row): Sergeants Tariq, Rauf, Javed GC Jilani, Sergeant Azhar, GC Shaffi, Safdar, Khattak
Standing (Second Row): GC Munir, Shoaib, Sergeants Farooq, Altaf, Ishraque and Qadri
Munir was quiet, yet friendly and full of life. In his last years, he has been very conscious of his religious obligations and when I once met him for the last time, though many years ago, I found him different from others and we talked about religion. He showed his dismay on our merry making and lamented that we were steering off course from Sirat e Mustaqeem and that our actions did not correspond to the tenants of Islam. And that time, I was like the lot and perhaps did not get his message right. But his views left a deep imprint on me and recently I too started following the path he was walking on, I regretted not having listened to him then and thus wasting away so many years of life.
Remembering Munir, Syed Haider Raza Mehdi recalls: I knew him from my PMA days as I was their 3rd term Platoon Sergeant when they joined in the first term. A very gentle quiet soul. He was an extremely good wrestler and kabbadi player, before he joined PMA. Won many awards and medals. May Allah SWT Grant his dear departed Soul with Eternal peace and happiness in the Final Abode. Alhamdulillah. Ilahi Aameen
Recalling Munir one Shaukat Malik from the Veterans' forum on Face book recalls: A jolly upright and good human being. We served together in ISSB Kohat as GTOs and everyone enjoyed his company. May Allah bless him. Ameen
There has been a great pause since, for he was not visible in course functions. Lately his absence was noticed by Muhammad Jamil on course forum and the Muhammad Asif was the man who finally traced him out very recently. Shahid Noor and Ikram Kiyani visited him at his home in Bahria Town and was really sad to see the once master of the tracks lying helplessly on the bed, recognizing no one. While we had just taken a sigh of relief for him having been found out, he was admitted in hospital to spend his numbered days there till 12th Augst 2022. Had Jamil and Asif not tried to find him out, Muir may have gone away without anyone of us ever knowing.
His funeral was attended by almost 20 course mates. I wish I could have joined in saying farewell to our brother for I was just recovering from acute fever I was suffering from the last three days.
Note: Please forgive me for not finding any more photos of Munir in my photo reservoir. If his close associates/platoon mates have any photos or memories to share, please inbox me in my WhatsApp.
May Allah bless Munir Butt 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.
