PESHAWAR: In essence, it was supposed to be a commemoration to honour a brave police officer, killed in a suicide bombing a decade ago. But the even turned out to be a tear-jerker.

There was hardly a soul attending the Malik Saad’s 10th death anniversary, who was not touched, moved or wasn’t teary-eyed.

There was a standing ovation from the nearly-packed renovated Nisthar Hall when two officers, who had survived suicide bombings and terrorist attacks, limped their way to the stage. A senior police officer, standing nearby, raised his hands to salute the two gentlemen. “These are the forgotten heroes,” he said.

The ambience was somber, the songs and videos of our slain officers and children played in between the speeches by those who had lost their dear ones had created the perfect setting for a heart-wrenching event organised by Malik Saad Sports Memorial Trust.

The photos of the familiar faces of officers, from Saad to Safwat to Khan Raziq, together with the slain students of Army Public School standing astride on either side of the stage was a powerful reminder of the countless sacrifices this soil has offered and the resilience its people have shown in the fight against a dark ideology.

10th death anniversary of Malik Saad marked

A sobbing Asfandyar’s mother was there to speak. “We scold our kids and get mad at them, but look at the tremendous respect that they have brought us,” she said wiping off tears while remembering her son, who was among the 122 students killed in the Dec 2014 terrorist attack.

Mian Iftikhar Hussain, the Pakhtun nationalist leader, whose son was also killed by terrorists in July 2010, when he was a minister, walked to the podium wiping his tears. Just before his speech, a song was played. “O Yaro Mera Yar Na Raha” (O friends! my friend is no more).

“This is the first time, I have broken down into tears,” he said, with a wobbling voice. “Maybe I am getting old and weak or maybe it is the videos of the slain kids that have moved me to tears,” he said, his voice still trembling.

“These are strange times,” he said. “Kids would shoulder the funerals of their parents, and now, parents shoulder the funerals of their kids,” he continued.

Then he suddenly regained his composure. Apologising to the audience for breaking down, he said the fight against terror was not over. “If the kids have the courage to stand up and fight, then we the old too need to pick up the strength to fight.”

Saad’s elder brother, Malik Mohammad Asad, too couldn’t control his emotions and with voice quivering, he remembered how he had raised his brother when he was in nappies. Saad was 11 years younger to him. “He had never asked for anything,” he said. “He was dedicated to his profession.”

But while he was proud of the sacrifices his family had made, Asad reminded the audience that it was the state of affairs the country was in which should be mourned and not the people who offered their lives to ensure peace and security. “Intolerance is the source of all problems,” he said.

Additional Inspector General Syed Akhar Ali Shah recalled the many traits of the police officer – his dedication to serve, his sense of professionalism and duty, and his penchant for good poetry and music.

Asad was followed by Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, but he too couldn’t control himself while fondly remembering Saad as a kid growing to become an officer. “It were the sacrifices of officers like him, Safwat, Abid Ali and others which made us safe,” he noted. “They would lead from the front,” he said.

“Our brave men in uniform never abandoned their posts when under attack or wouldn’t let a stranger go past without search,” Jhagra said. “They sacrificed their lives for us and for our better future,” he said.

Published in Dawn January 28th, 2017