ISLAMABAD: A new book of stories of individuals who made sacrifices for Pakistan and the challenges their families faced, titledBeautiful Colours of a Resilient Nationwas launched Saturday evening.

In addition to authorLt ColDanish Javed, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa MPA Waqar Khan, Bomb Disposal Squad head Inayatullah Tiger and retiredLt GenTahir Mehmood Qazir spoke at the launch.

Sikhs, Christians and residents of areas such as Swat whose loved ones had sacrificed their lives facing terrorist attackes in the last few years, also attended the event.

The book is a collection of stories of different people, most of whom are unknown beyond their immediate circles. The author began compiling the stories after going through the painful experience of losing close companions around the world.

Discussing the book, Mr Javed said he has shared stories of national heroes and their families, who are often unknown.

“I wanted to tell the people about the sacrifices of families who lost their near and dear ones for the noble cause,” he said.

The stories are not based in a specific timeframe, he added, but there were many incidents in the country when Sikhs and Christians suffered the loss of their loved ones for peace.

“Each tale of heroism in the book has a unique blend of sacrifice, belief and selflessness which makes the nation resilient,” he said.

Mr Javed said he spent more than 23 years in the army. “I have witnessed such examples of heroism, selflessness and courage that are inconceivable to our minds. I found our heroes not only sacrificed for Pakistan for also for humanity across the globe,” he said.

MPA Waqar Khan from the Awami National Party, who is from Swat and whose story is also told in the book, spoke at the launch about how his brother Iqbal Khan, his wife, his three sons and daughter-in-law and a two-month-old baby were sleeping in the house when terrorists attacked.

“Terrorists assembled Iqbal Ahmed Khan and his two sons and four employees in the compound of the house. They asked Iqbal Ahmed Khan which of his son should be assassinated first but he said kill him first before his sons. After killing his sons, the terrorists killed him and his employees also,” he said.

Mr Inayatullah, who headed the district bomb squad in D.I. Khan, lost his right foot and most of his left hand in 2014 in a mine explosion. He was also injured in 2009 while on duty.

Mr Qazi said the book was very informative and brought stories of people who sacrificed their lives for peace but went unnoticed.

“The author made an extraordinary effort to arrange the stories and tell people about heroism. He documented eventful history with the eye of a person who has lost his companions,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2019