This picture was taken on Friday , 25th August 2023, at 8:30 pm during the marriage ceremony of Malik Haseeb Ullah Khan, grandson of Malik Bismillah Khan. In the picture, one can see the the bridegroom flanked by Akhtar Ali Shah, ex IG Police KP, a researcher and Asim Effendi.
Once aboard a low-flying helicopter over the Swat Valley, the then Governor of KP spotted a familiar place where he had spent his childhood. Despite the security risks involved in an unscheduled landing without prior security deployment, he ordered the pilot to touch down, going against the advice. One could only wish this tribal leader had a free hand as Governor of KP. Today, the entire tribal belt bordering Afghanistan would have been free of violence and bloodshed.
While the rotor blades were still moving, a man alighted from the helicopter, surprising the then Principal. This man was none other than Malik Shaukat Ullah Khan, a Sangotian who had once been a boarder at the Public School Sangota Swat. He always considered the school his second home.
I can never forget the loyalty of this brave tribal notable from the former Bajaur Agency towards his alma mater and his teachers. He traveled all the way by himself without any escort, despite the high-security risk, to present the lifetime achievement award to the Honorable Mrs. Eshrat Mehboob. She was the wife of Late Dr. Mehboob Ur Rehman, once a PPP stalwart from Swat and the most respected teacher of her era. She was also the daughter of my late father’s dear friend Kamran Khan, a cultured but reserved person. She is still held in the highest esteem by all students of Public School Sangota Swat and is considered a motherly figure.
The late Honorable Arjumand Bibi, popularly known as Appa, who came from an underprivileged background in Saidu Sharif, was also held in high esteem. Appa had acted as the hostel warden and was like a mother to the boarders. When Appa passed away, one of the proud legacies she left behind was the award that Shaukat Ullah Khan presented to her with the utmost respect and affection. He considered himself the same little child she had looked after.
I cherish my journey with my school fellow to Besham and our visit to our other school fellow’s house, as well as lunch at the underprivileged distant family relation of Shaukat Ullah Khan in Battagram. This area had recently been in the international news due to the Alai chairlift incident, where almost the entire area’s population gathered to greet this down-to-earth school fellow of mine. Shaukat Ullah loves to be amongst ordinary people and today celebrates his beloved son’s marriage, to which he personally ensured to invite me, being closest to his heart like his own family.
One wonders what and whose sentiments Sahab Khan hurt with his candid admission of not being allowed to carry out the rescue mission earlier at Alai , in a Tehsil of District Battagram that delayed the operation till late at night , that he faced a total blackout of media exposure or recognition of his meritorious rescue missions for which he is locally known. It is unfortunate and sad that nationally there is no mention of him as the sole hero of this saga deserving highest Civil Award , despite an Army-organized impressive ceremony where the survivors and the officially recognized large number of rescuers including Sahab Khan himself were honored by none other than the Honourable caretaker Prime Minister himself.
It is these unprofessional acts of ours as a nation that have made us dangle today, much like the rescued Alai lopsided chairlift stuck midair. Ironically, Pakistan today faces a similar plight, unsure of which country and when will extend pity to save her from the lingering economic catastrophe. One wonders what the need was for such luxurious ceremonies that served no purpose. The wasted money should have been utilized to either fund these self-help rescuers for capacity building or to improve the infrastructure of the same chairlift that made us face this international embarrassment.
I am sure Shaukat Ullah will be eager to honor Sahab Khan, the real rescue hero who emerged victorious for the locals, Pakistan Army, Pakistan National Disaster Management Authority, Rescue 1122, the country, and the nation. Through his expertise and initiative, Sahab Khan launched the unconventional rescue mission that saved the lives of students entangled thousands of feet above midair in a chairlift. This abandoned mission, considered not only dangerous but nearly impossible by others engaged officially in the rescue mission, gave Pakistan a reason to celebrate today – the happy ending of a tragic beginning that could have exposed our institutional incompetence more, had these boys died like the ones who met a tragic end last year during floods in Kohistan.
Presenting a shield to Sahab Khan for his exemplary bravery and utmost professionalism on behalf of the nation, as a national hero in a simple ceremony to be held at our school fellow Sadiq Akbar’s house in Besham, where this national hero belongs to, would be Shaukat Ullah’s greatest gift to his country and fellow countrymen during his beloved son’s marriage. All we can expect from the bridegroom is to be like father, like son in serving humanity as and when the occasion arises.
