GUJRAT, Nov 27: The elevation of Lt-Gen Raheel Sharif to the slot of the chief of the army staff brought a wave of joy to Kunjah Town where his family once lived. Raheel Sharif is the brother of Maj Shabbir Sharif, a recipient of Nishan-i-Haider. He had left the native town many years ago but joyous eruption among the locals showed the measure of respect the military family enjoyed.

Many people gathered along the street where the new army chief’s forefathers used to live. They felicitated one another, distributed sweetmeat and expressed their best wishes for the “son of the soil.”

The media personnel visited the hometown of Gen Sharif and captured the images of the abandoned house which now is in a dilapidated condition. Some relatives of the army chief reside in the same locality.

Sheikh Shehnaz Aslam, a close kin of Gen Sharif, told Dawn that it was a great honour for the people of Gujrat in general and Kunjah in particular that the “son of the soil” had become the army chief.

He said Gen Sharif had not spent much time in Kunjah but still the people of this town felt proud due to an association.

Siddique Butt, a veteran social worker, said earlier Maj Shabbir Sharif Shaheed had earned respect for Kunjah by laying down his life for the country. Now, his brother had been given the all-important job of army chief which was an honour for all those who remained with him, he said.

Another old-timer said there was an age-old monument built in memory of Maj Shabbir Sharif Shaheed at the entrance to the town (along Gujrat-Sargodha Road). The people of Kunjah would request the army chief to build another monument to pay a tribute to his valiant brother and upgrade this small town, he said.

Kunjah is the hometown of many luminaries such as Prof Sharif Kunjahi, Prof Anwar Masood, Ghaneemat Kunjahi and Ruhi Kunjahi. It is the main town of the constituency -- PP-110 -- of Pervaiz Elahi and his son, Moonis Elahi.

The town has recently been given the status of a municipal committee from the earlier position of a single union council.