A hero is a foolish person, a wise man never takes risks, but heroes are remembered and wise men are forgotten in history. Back in the forties when Pakistan was newly established, a person belonging to Khaksar Movement attacked Quaid-e-Azam with a knife in public. Quaid, in spite of his age and weak physique, held the attacker’s arm with great determination and courage. Did the Quaid, in order to save himself from this attacker, act unwisely? In 1971, a Bengali Officer of PAF tried to hijack an Air Force fighter jet, but the co-pilot Rashid Minhas, knowing his intention thwarted his act by embracing Shahdit. He knew that in this attempt he could get killed, but he still went ahead and tried to stop him and died in crash. Did he act unwisely?
In 1978, a man by the name of Nazir hijacked a PIA aircraft, later Air Marshal Noor Khan, then the PIA’s head, went to negotiate with him so that he may surrender, during his talks with the highjackers, he pounced on him and grabbed him. In this scuffle, the Air Marshal was slightly injured. Did he act unwisely?
Our history is full of such brave acts, yet this government and its legion of illiterate and cowards denounced Zamurad Kahn’s brave act, an act of stupidity. There have been many instances where lives have been lost in order to perform duties for the country. Do they act foolishly? Those who are criticizing Zamurad Khan for taking an initiative in Islamabad incident are expected to be a bit appreciative of the action that he took at the cost of his own life.
ANWAR KHALIL SHEIKH,
Lahore, August 20.