The story of three brave Pakistani army officers who sacrificed their lives for its people

(Pak Destiny) Integrity of nations is the fruit of sacrifices of their soldiers and martyrs. Only alive nations have courage to lay down their lives for their motherland and no one can defeat the nation whose sons are sacrificing their lives for the sovereignty and bright future of their motherland and upcoming generations.

The stoic courage, indomitable will, overwhelming love of motherland and the spirit of martyrdom resonates in their heart which leads to a secure and peaceful Pakistan for us to dwell in.
It is a story of three Pakistani brave soldiers and friends — Maj Hafiz Atique Ahmed Shaheed, Lt. Col Anwar Abbas Butt and Capt Amir Butt of Baloch Regment — sacrificed their lives for our tomorrow. Maj Atique and Capt Amir were martyred in Swat Operation in June 23, 2009 and Lt.Col Anwar lost his life in operation in Hangu Tarah Adda in March, 2010.

The three valiant soldiers and close friends made Pakistan proud. This nation owes a lot to them and thousands of other soldiers, policemen and other martyrs of war on terror. They sacrificed their today for our and our children’s’ tomorrow. Let not forget them and their families and pay rich tributes to them as we may never be able to repay them what they have done for us.

“I am proud of this fact that my husband has been one such heroic soldier of Pak Army who gave a supreme sacrifice during Swat Operation in 2009. I would like to share few details of his life and martyrdom to make my readers understand how difficult it is for the families of martyrs to forbear the loss of their loved ones,” says Tasneem Atique, wife of Shaheed Major Hafiz Attique Ahmad.
Mrs Attique says: “On June 23, 2009’s afternoon, I was busy in kitchen preparing food for my son Hamza who just returned after playing with his friends. Doorbell rang. The commanding officer (CO) Gujranwala and his wife were out there. I received them. They asked me about my children’s health in a rather worried way. They looked sad. I could not figure out what’s the matter. Then they returned without any further talk.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”pdbq1″ size=””]Commandant Baloch Regimental Centre Brig Syed Khushnood has written:
“Award of Tamgha-i-Basalat to Major Hafiz Atique Ahmed Shaheed is a token of tribute for his act of chivalrous performance during search operation in Swat. His action has definitely added a new chapter in the scintillating history of Baloch regiment.”[/perfectpullquote]

“After about half an hour, two more families in the Cantt visited me and started talking about the operation in Swat and my husband’s brave acts. They were followed by the mother of my son’s friend whose tears started rolling down when she hugged me. Then I realized that my husband – Maj Atique Ahmed – had embraced martyrdom. I tried to control my tears but my eyes could not support me.
I spoke to my husband just four hours before his martyrdom. I could not believe in the news of his martyrdom but it was Allah’s will.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Tasneem Atique, wife of Shaheed Major Hafiz Attique Ahmad” link=”” color=”” class=”pdbq” size=””]”I am proud of this fact that my husband has been one such heroic soldier of Pak Army who gave a supreme sacrifice during Swat Operation in 2009. I would like to share few details of his life and martyrdom to make my readers understand how difficult it is for the families of martyrs to forbear the loss of their loved ones,”[/perfectpullquote]

“On the fateful day, Maj Atique Ahmed along with Capt Aamir Butt and three soldiers rushed to a spot in Char Bagh Sawat valley on information that their fellow soldiers were attacked by Taliban militants. When they reached there, they found their fellow soldiers dead. As they got off the vehicle to collect the bodies of the soldiers, they were targeted by the ‘faceless’ enemies’.

Hafiz Sahib received two bullets – one on neck and other on wrist – while Capt Aamir on head embracing martyrdom on the spot. Hafiz Sahib remained alive for some time and recited verses of Quran. He also said few words (instructions) for his family to a fellow soldier who was insisting to take him to a medical facility centre in the valley but Hafiz Sahib said ‘no its time to meet his Creator’. One of his last words were… ask Usama (the elder son who was 11 at that time) to take care of the youngest son Umair (who was 5).

Hafiz Sahib was part of Baloch Regiment. The government of Pakistan has awarded him Tamgha-i-Basalat for his supreme sacrifice.

Commandant Baloch Regimental Centre Brig Syed Khushnood has written:
“Award of Tamgha-i-Basalat to Major Hafiz Atique Ahmed Shaheed is a token of tribute for his act of chivalrous performance during search operation in Swat. His action has definitely added a new chapter in the scintillating history of Baloch regiment. The entire Baloch Regiment is proud of the supreme sacrifice made by him. I on behalf all ranks of the Regiment, salute the bravery of Maj Hafiz Atique Ahmed Shaheed.”

Born in Sant Nagar locality of old city of Lahore in 1968, Atique was third among his six siblings, he got primary and secondary education at the Central Model School, Lower Mall, where he excelled in curricular activities alike. He was a good student and a good athlete and earned two silver medals in Inter School games for his alma mater. In his captaincy, the school football team earned laurels while he had been declared the best social worker for three consecutive years.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”pdbq” size=””]Hafiz Sahib was part of Baloch Regiment. The government of Pakistan has awarded him Tamgha-i-Basalat for his supreme sacrifice.[/perfectpullquote]

After getting through the secondary school certificate or matriculation examination with distinction in science subjects, he was enrolled to the prestigious the Government College Lahore in F.Sc. (pre-engineering). He brought a silver medal from the National Junior Athletic Championship in 1989 for his college before getting the commission in the Pakistan Army.

“We got married in 1997. I was a lecturer at Govt. Sahiwal Girls Degree College which I joined after doing my post-graduation in Psychology from Punjab University. We have four beautiful kids – Usama, now 18, Hamza, 16, Omar, 14, and Omair, 12.

After the martyrdom of Hafiz Sahib, I resumed lectureship,” she says..
Hafiz Sahib was the most loved one among his family and peers because of his lively nature. Always willing to lend a hand to anyone in distress, irrespective of socio-economic status and faith, he was popular among the youth and elders of the area and family. Even after joining Pakistan Army, he would remain in constant touch with his area people, relatives and friends and always ready to extend help in different matters.

He was respected in Swat because of his charity works he did during the Swat Operation. I was told by his fellows that when the news of Hafiz Sahib’s martyrdom broke out in Char Bagah almost everyone cried. Hafiz Sahib used to distribute the produce (fruits and other food stuff grown in the area) among the people of Char Bagh who otherwise were facing a curfew like situation.
Sant Nagar residents have erected a huge portrait outside the street of Maj Sahib’s ancestral house to express their love and respect for him. On the demand of area people, the city district government of Lahore has named the only park after him. Afghan park (Sanat Nagar) is now called Hafiz Attique Shaheed Park.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”pdbq1″ size=””]He was respected in Swat because of his charity works he did during the Swat Operation. I was told by his fellows that when the news of Hafiz Sahib’s martyrdom broke out in Char Bagah almost everyone cried.[/perfectpullquote]

“Hafiz Sahib is like a son for me. I can still feel him around. “Shaheed mara nahi kartay,” said Bao Rafiq, a neighbourer of Hafiz Sahib. Elected as councilor Rafiq said, “when Hafiz Sahib embraced martyrdom in Swat, the whole locality was in deep grief as well as proud of him.”Hafiz Sahib sacrificed his life for our safety and for the safety of the whole country,” Bao Rafique, his neighbour in Sanat Nagar says.
Parvaiz, his parental uncle, said “How can we forget him? He is the pride of our family. He was popular among all. He was extremely caring and loving.”

“We (people of Pakistan) are alive today because of the supreme sacrifice of our soldiers like Maj Atiq,” says his brother Laique Ahmed.

The blood of hundreds of young soldiers like Hafiz Atique, Col Anwar and Capt Amir should become a guiding light for us Pakistanis to navigate through dark times of anguish. If these young men could offer their very best and even dear lives to serve Pakistan in time of need, so could each one of us in every walk of life.

The story of Lt Col Anwar Abbas Shaheed

The story of Capt. Amer Shaheed

Capt Aamir Butt along with another brave and lionhearted Major Hafiz Atique Ahmed of Baloch Regiment were ambushed during an army operation in Sawat on June 23, 2009. We … the whole nation owe to them for sacrificing their lives for our motherland. We are breathing in free land because of the sacrifices of such soldiers. |Written by Zulqernain