The pages of history are filled with the unsung heroes or more precisely with people that are yet unknown to most of us. The people who sacrificed their lives in order to let others live. Everyone loves his country and we being Pakistanis, worship our land because there is nothing on this Earth that would be more precious and special for us but this land.
We have given so much more for getting a place like this where we could practice our culture, religion, and norms independently. If we look back in history, the pages are full of the blood of people who worked to shape this thought of an independent state into reality. There are several trough and crest in our past. Pakistan has gone through a lot and hundreds of people who lived with this name “Pakistan” beating in their hearts. Those people who didn’t even have any second thought about giving their service and life to this country.
As all of us are well aware of “Defence Day” which is celebrated on September 6 every year to remember the martyrs of the Indo-Pak war 1965. This day was another proof of our love for our motherland. Pakistan became successful in marking a historic defeat to India. As many of our brave and courageous soldiers sacrificed their lives for the respect of motherland. We lost Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed, who embraced martyrdom on September 6, 1965.
But the tale of sacrifices and martyrs doesn’t end yet. Along with the Pakistan Armed Forces, there are also civilians who gave up their lives but had dreams were so big for Pakistan.
Let’s remember their sacrifices and contributions on this “Defence Day” because they contributed to our country and take time from our lives to appreciate the things they did.
Benazir Bhutto:
Following the footsteps of her father, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, she stood out of the crowd. Unlike the normal women, she was one of a kind and had graceful personality. She was the first women to serve as the Prime Minister of Pakistan and in the other states of the Muslim world. She was honored by this responsibility twice as she became 11th and 13th Prime minister of Pakistan. Benzair Bhutto campaigned for acquiring support from the other Islamic countries for Kashmir dispute and elected as Prime Minister of Pakistan. Siachen Defence was initiated by her. During her tenure, as PM, Army exercises of Zarb-e-Momin were initiated. Some women shape the future of any nation or country it was well known to our former PM, for this, she empowered women by initiating the programs involving the provision of sewing machines to widows and needy women for independent and running their house.
Mohtarma Benazir martyred after the rally for General Elections 2008 at Liaqatabad National Bagh, Rawalpindi, by shooting and right after the gunfire, a suicide bomb was set off. As a result, 24 other people also lost their lives in this blast.
Chaudhry Aslam Khan:
He was Senior Superintendent of Sindh Police Force and acquired fame after his performance as an encounter specialist. He also led Lyari Task Force (LTF). Aslam Khan caught several target killers, gangsters, criminals, terrorists and extortionists from Karachi. He was a dedicated Police Officer. That provided the reason to his enemies to have a motive for planting his death. He embraced martyrdom on January 9, 2014, in a bomb blast that was conducted by Taliban in Karachi.
Aitzaz Hassan:
A Pakistani schoolboy who was only fifteen years old, the age of dreams and fantasies, yet he had affection and nerve for his country so huge that he sacrificed his life on his country. He didn’t let the suicide bomber enter in his school located in the village of Hangu, having a strength of 2000 students. He grabbed the bomber on January 7, 2014. Aitzaz’s action of saving the lives of other people has been appreciated by all Pakistanis and we cannot overlook his sacrifice for the country. He was named as the Herald’s Person of the Year for 2014. Aitzaz was also honored with Sitara-e-Shujat.
Mir Siraj Khan Raisani:
Nawabzada Siraj Khan Raisani was Pakistani politician who was linked to the Balochistan Awami Party. He was a true patriot who adored his country more than anything. Apart from being a politician he also held the record of making the longest Pakistani flag. However, Raisani’s hate for Pakistan’s rival – India was as strong as his love for Pakistan.
On July 13, 2018, when Raisani was just about to address the political gathering which was arranged as General Elections 2018 campaign in Mastung, got the honor of being martyred along with other 131 people in the suicide blast.
Nawab Nasrullah Khan:
Nawab Nasrullah started his political career in 1930 which is before partition. He would never be forgotten for his uncanny tendency of building opposition alliances. He was into politics before any of the politicians present today. After partition, he became an MPA in 1951 and an MNA in 1962 General Elections. Nawab supported information of opposition alliance DAC for eliminating military dictator. He has the title of the chairperson of Kashmir Committee. Before his demise, he was the Chairman of Alliance for the restoration of democracy acting for the restoration of Pakistan’s democracy. He left us at the age of 86 years. History has never seen a politician like him.
Muhammad Zaman Mehsud:
Zaman Mehsud was a journalist by profession and worked for Urdu language Newspapers, “Daily Ummat and Daily Nai Baat.” He used to run his own Twitter news feed known as “Gomel News”. Basically, Mehsud did his reporting along the borderline of Pakistan with Afghanistan and in South Waziristan which comes in the territory of FATA. He was a coordinator for Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. He martyred after the “International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists”, where journalists and news organizations are appreciated for talking about the justice deficiency for conviction of violent crimes committed against media employees and journalists. Zaman Mehsud embraced martyrdom when he was heading to his office, on his motorcycle and two gunmen shot him multiple times.
Sardar Ikramullah Gandhapur:
He was Pakistani politician belongs to the ruling political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. He served as the Provincial Minister of Agriculture in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. Sardar was a regular relief worker and a momentous speaker. He was elected through a by-election to his late brother’s seat. Three days earlier the general elections on July 22, 2018, when Gandhapurwas present in Kulachi, D. I. Khan, a suicide bomber came near his vehicle and set off the bomb. His condition was critical and, in the end, he left this world and embraced martyrdom.
Martyrs of APS, Peshawar:
The fourth world’s deadliest school massacre when the students of the Northwestern city studying in Army Public School Peshawar, attacked by six gunmen who belonged to the Tehrik-e-Taliban, invaded the school and opened fire on the students and staff without even thinking about killing one child means you’re destroying the whole family. Those barbarians martyred the children of age from eight to eighteen. More than 150 people were martyred involving 134 children and staff. 960 people were rescued and six terrorists were slain by Pakistan’s Army Special Services Group. Children are the future of any country or nation, they are our “tomorrow” which is a promise that the nation would rise and come as ever strong that it was before. We haven’t forgotten and shall never forget the young martyrs, and the children who were rescued and they still choose to be the student of APS Peshawar.
These are the examples that we Pakistanis are brave people whether young or old, students or employers, we are ready to die for our country whenever it would be the need of the hour. The list doesn’t end here, there are definitely more people who are the martyrs and they would never be forgotten. It is true that we can never be able of equating these people with anyone else but we can always remember them and their contributions for the motherland. Take a moment from your life and show Gratitude for the country in which you are breathing independently.
Pakistan Zindabad.
