QUETTA: In the heart of Marriabad, a congested area dominated by the Hazara community, a clean street leads to a house where Shahida Raza — a Pakistani national who drowned in a boat accident off Italy – lived with her mother and three sisters in a small house she had rented.

The news of her death has cast a gloom in the tiny house — where her room adorned with medals, pictures, and her ‘green coat’ of the national hockey team still embodies her presence.

Since Shahida’s death, everyone in the house, including Summiya, are crying their hearts out. In her conversation with Dawn about her friend between sobs, Summiya remembers the time both of them spent together. Next to her is Shahida’s sister, who cannot hold back her tears.

“Shahida represented Pakis­tan at the global level for more than four years, but she left Pakistan to earn money for the treatment of her son,” Summiya said. She took her son to several hospitals — big and small — but to no avail. The three-year-old, who is paralysed by birth, can neither move nor speak.

Athlete left the country in search of treatment for her son

Besides hockey, Shahida also played professional football, but the decision to ban departmental sports left her unemployed. “She lost her job in Wapda and later joined the Pakistan Army team,” Summiya added. But she also lost that job, which badly disturbed her. “She was heartbroken all the time.”

Like every other dejected player, Shahida knocked at every door and sent a number of applications to many government and private institutions, but all of this proved to be in vain.

Shahida did not want to leave her son behind and go overseas to look for work, but had to because of her financial crisis and son’s illness. According to Summiya, she also fell out with her husband after the boy’s birth and their marriage ended in divorce.

A few months ago, Shahida Raza shared her plans to go to Italy or Australia. “Four months back, she left Quetta for Iran en route to Italy or Australia. I was in contact with Shahida Raza during her stay in Iran and Turkey,” Summiya shared.

She last contacted her on Feb 26, when Shahida was travelling in a boat. “I am in a boat and will reach our destination in the next couple of hours,” was their last exchange.

Though her sisters and mother were in no condition to talk about Shahida, they are anxiously waiting for her body’s return. “One of our relatives reached Italy and tried to contact the relevant Pakistani and Italian authorities for the handing over of Shahida’s body,” they said. “She went as an illegal immigrant alone and now she will return alone — in a coffin,” Summiya said.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2023