News From Rawalpindi / Islamabad

On 18th September Aman Ullah hosted the walima of his wedded son with the daughter of Ghouri. For those who do not remember Ghouri, let me explain that Ghouri had joined us in the first term but had to bid farewell to arms just after the first term as his future was somewhere else. He is well settled now and lives in Islamabad.

A sizeable gathering of course mates got together at 1969 restaurant under the foothills if Shakarparian Hills, Islamabad. The first three photos are from my cell phone camera. The remaining photos from herein under were shot by Asif Ilyas.

From the group photos, you may be able to find out who all were present.

On 18 September, a parallel get together was going on at the NDU and most of our war course/ NDC qualified course mates were attending the get together. However, some including Shahid Maqbool and Munawar made it to the venue to attend the reception.

An Eid Milan Party was thrown by Lt Gen Agha Umer Farooq at NDU on 10 September 2011. A large number of course mates along with lady wives attended. Read more about the gathering....

Walima of Arjumand Iqbal's son was held on 20th July 2011 at Islamabad. A very large number of guests attended. Besides many other serving and retired military officer, a large number of course mates also attended. We will wait for photographs from Arjumand Iqbal, but above is a cut-paste collection of photos from previous occasions', who attended the walima. I may have missed one odd, but generally all have been included.

Jamil Bravo in Pakistan: I received a phone call today (19th february 2011) and the caller identified him as Jamil. Since I do not any Jamil in Pakistan, I asked for more identification. The caller said he had come from a "cold region" outside Pakistan. And I didn't take a second to identify Jamil Bravo as only one Jamil that I know who lives in a cold region, that happens to be Canada, and I guessed right. Soon after Jamil Bravo with his wife arrived at my house. It was good to see him accompanied at my doorstep. And for the next almost an hour we chatted and laughed and photographed. He is in Pakistan and as a surprise has not informed anyone, even his own near and dear ones.  Due to his hectic schedule, he declined any get together and said he would try to meet individually some of the course mates as time allowed. So don't be surprised if you get a call from him as he is here for a few days more. Jamil also called on Farrukh Hayee and both are seen smiling above right (though Farrukh from behind his beard).

The wedding of Mujeeb's son was the second event after Khalid Javed's daughter's marriage at Lahore. I had to rush back to Rawalpindi and barely made it in time. The venue was Topi Rakh auditorium, sandwiched between Rawalpindi Golf Club and the Ayub Park. These was a large gathering of the course mates, as can be seen from the two sets of photos above and below. Mujeeb also told me that Tassawar and Nauman had accompanied the barat to Pakpattan (Mujeeb's hometown).

Seeing me in all photos will bring smiles to Munawar, Arjumand and Tariq Sher. Seen not in the photos is Shahid Maqbool, whose photo unfortunately became blurred and has not been added.

On 7 August 2010, the Islamabad/Rawalpindi Chapter met at the lush green Golf Club of Islamabad Club, which looked dreamy and impressive at night. A large number of course mates along with their lady wives attended. Although many more had confirmed their attendance, but as usual to the agony of the course secretary did not turn up.

After the pleasantries and usual hello-HIs, the dinner was served. The food was good and plenty and everyone seemed to have enjoyed it.

Thereafter, the course secretary Col Asif got the male participants fall-in outside the dinning hall for the update on accounts. He also informed that the dinner was arranged due kind courtesy of Ghori and the hall booking charges had been waived off by Arbab Zahid Pervez (few would remember him - he was from 54th PMA and joined us and later bid farewell to the arms after our first term) who is presently the Captain of Islamabad Club. Asif also apprised the participants about the birthday of Jalal (that's me), to which everyone sang the opening verses of "happy Birthday to you...." (thanks all for that), though Akhtar Nawaz Janjua reminded me that I was now a year closer to my final journey.

Asif Ilyas had his son married and many of us were invited for the Walima at Crystal Hall, AWT Mess, Rawalpindi. Those of us present there included Shahid Maqbool, Ashraf Tabbasum, Ghazanfar, Tahir, Raja, Naseer, Zafar, Ikram, Zahoor, Sibqat, Tariq, Shafiq, Mohsin Amir, Aslam Javed, Abdul Rauf Khan, Farooq Ahmed, Tariq Fazal from Lahore - and of course Jalal HB.

Any event in the twin cities of Islamabad / Rawalpindi becomes a venue for a mini course get together. After the course get together at Rwal Dam recently, the wedding of Ashraf Tabbasum's daughter was yet another occasion for many of us to join the event spread over two days. The "Mehndi" was held at the Rawalpindi Golf Club and was attended by a few of us. The pleasant presence of Jamal Zia from Lahore gave new colour to the occasion.

The wedding attracted, beside many senior officers, a large number of us. Presence of Khalid Javed (from Lahore) was a surprise. Zahir was missed as he chose to be in foreign lands. Regretfully, the photos from my mobile were hazy and blurred.

Khalid Javed and Mushtaq took a few snaps and were requested to send these for inclusion in the site. The above photos are courtesy Mushtaq Khan and am obliged.

(Delayed) Eid Milan Party: So finally it did happen on the night of 22 November at Islamabad Club. Asif had arranged a wonderful dinner beside ensuring a good gathering. Almost fifty course mates, mosty accompanied, attended. There was everybody who are usually in Rawalpindi/Islamabad and counting everyone would be difficult (counting the absentees was easier).

However, one can see most of the attendees in the photographs. Everyone was willing to be "shot" to immortalize the event (Munir should be happy). After pleasantries, dinner was served and it was really good.

On dinner tables, everyone ate and chatted.  After the dinner, Asif called for a half-circle conference to apprise everyone of the situation of course fund and donations. Three venues for the next course get together were discussed ( Peshawar as inviteby Tariq Khan, Nathia Gali and Murree). Although, Peshawar should have been selected as Tariq Khan had sent in the invitation long ago, but due to security situation, it was the opinion of the majority that attendance would be thin at Peshawar. So Murree was finally selected for which  Zaheer  will be making all the arrangements. And then the house was open for a lighter mood and jokes. And it was after a long time that Alamgir got a chance to corner Sami Ullah Khattak, who was equally offensive to shoot back all NRO type allegations. And amid laughing and smiling, the party came to an end.

There have been no news lately to keep the website active except the other day when a "Fauji Truck" ripped my car's bumper which finally led me to the Akbar Market near Mareerh Pull, Rawalpindi for repairs on this Saturday. The mechanic, denter and the painter announced a time frame of 4-6 hours for the job. To while away the time, I just got on to the Murree Road for a stroll (though at 1 pm it wasn't any time for any such adventure specially without a headgear for a half bald person like me). And at that time I remembered that Islam (Ul Haq)'s office was nearby (he being the MD WASA), so I decided for an unplanned call on. Since I wasn't dressed up for the occasion, his reception staff eyed me with curiosity and suspicion as I did not spell out my rank with the name. Reluctantly, I was ushered in and was met with hearty smile and big hands. I was served with a cold drink, followed by a KFC burger and then tea with biscuits. It was a delight to be there in his office recalling old days in an office overlooking Liaquat Bagh. While he was busy in his office work, I snapped him with my mobile phone for those who haven't met him since long. After spending sometime with him, when I announced my departure, he asked his staff car wala to drop me back to the workshop (which saved me from another stroll under the scorching sun).

The marriage of Tariq Sher's daughter on 12 March 2009 at AWT main banquet hall was the venue of a mini course get together since a large number of serving and retired course mates attended. Agha Umar Farooq from chilling Quetta (on vacation as "his school" is closed), A-Z Shahid from Karachi, smartly  dressed Zahir from Lahore and Ghazanfar from chilly Abbottabad were among those who came from out satiation. Locals included Ashraf Tabbasum, Shahid Maqbool, Farooq, Munawar, Azhar Ali Shah, Mumtaz Bajwa, Rashid Javeed, Shahid Ahmed, Munir, Dr sahab (Mukhtar), Javed Ashraf Bajwa, Sheikh sahab (Tahir), Qayyum, AA Janjua, AN Janjua, Mansur,  Zuhr Khan, Fahim Khawar, Jahangir, Rizwan, Raja (Jinn), Allah Dad (Kurd??), Hayee, Asif, Zafar Masud, Asim Jilani, The WASA man (Islam), Shigri, Shoaib Mumtaz (the election man), Akram, Alamgir - anyone left. Yes of course Jalal HB (Myself). The function ended with a good dinner amid chats of yester years and discussions on future plans and prevailing situation.

Mini get together was held in Rawalpindi on the eve of marriage of daughter of Lt Col Mujeeb. Many course mates attended. Zhair and Younis had come from Lahore while Vincent Samuel who is currently in Pakistan was also there. Others included Shahid Maqbool, Farooq, Tariq Sher, Asif, Ali Akbar, Mansoor, Naveed Akbar, Zafar and of course myself. The picture quality is not very good as I shot these with my mobile phone. The event was well attended and all of us had a good chat - specially with Vincent Samuel whom we met almost after passing out from PMA.

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Page created on 21 January 2008