AN outstanding civil servant and a distinguished diplomat, Dr Humayun Khan breathed his last on Sept 22. He handled his disease with dignity and fortitude. With his demise, the light went out of my soul. I had the opportunity of working with him as section officer when he was deputy secretary in the establishment division.

Without a doubt, he was a unique officer who functioned with clarity and honesty. Every one respected his analysis and opinions greatly, as they knew his main endeavour was to speak the truth. He always manifested and applied the motto of ‘Duty, Honour and Country’ in its truest sense. He was a gentleman of integrity. Never once did his rank, ego or intellect come in the way of his interaction with people.

He was one of the most celebrated members of the Civil Services of Pakistan. His courage, impudence and his hypnotic influence won him admiration. He was the embodiment of the highest standards of civil service.

It is difficult to sum up the life of such an extraordinary man who blended education and erudition with common sense. He was a man with immense generosity and sincere affection. A paraphrased Shakespearean expression might help; his life was gentle and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up and say to the world, this was the man. Indeed, he was such a soul.

He was a humble, witty, kind and caring person who was an excellent conver-sationalist and a great company to be in. As an administrator he was a warrior; stubborn and shrewd. As a diplomat, he was a charmer.

Above all, he was a satisfied man who had no regrets. He wanted to live his life the way he wanted, and did just that. He will be remembered for long as a human being and professional par excellence.

Mohd Tariq Khan
Peshawar

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2022