I’ve spent the past two weeks trolling around and about Islamabad, publicly declaring my dislike for the city. Just when I was about to give up on ever finding common ground with the Capital, I was asked to meet a few people in Wah. Now, I’d never been there before, and the only image of Wah in my head was that of a garrison town, populated either with boots or people favoured by boots. Aslam saheb, however, changed my mind forever.
This 63-year-old bloody civilian has spent the past several decades crusading against corruption within the ranks of the armed forces. His most recent battle is against a certain General who headed a certain operation in Balochistan in August 2006. General saheb wants to use his ‘discretionary’ powers to hand over a piece of very valuable real estate to a crony. Aslam saheb is having none of it. When ‘talks’ didn’t work, Aslam sought help from the legal justice system. The courts surprisingly did not disappoint, as evidenced by a stay order that the petitioner proudly showed me.
This, like I’ve said earlier, is not Aslam’s first battle; it is merely the latest. During a similar ‘skirmish’ a few years ago, he ended up being shot six times in the torso. A bullet went through his heart, several pierced his lungs, another tore a hole in his jugular vein and the muscles of his right fore-arm. Doctors offered little hope, but given that it was Aslam saheb, a man they adored as well, they decided to give it a shot. Surgeries were conducted through the night in a blood-drenched operation theatre. “They’d keep giving him bottles of blood to keep his heart going, and it would keep gushing out of his jugular vein,” his friends explained. Word spread about the attack, and people rushed to the hospital. “There were people everywhere! In the corridors, in the rooms, in the waiting areas — it was like a sea.”
Forty eight bottles of blood were needed, along with 10 packs of plasma. Well-wishers lined up to donate blood. Police officers, clerics, teachers, pushcart vendors begged the doctors to ‘allow [them] to serve Aslam saheb’. Eventually they got so much blood — despite the immense demand — that people were actually turned away. But they did not leave. The surgeries were over, and doctors said that even if Aslam saheb lived, the right side of his body would be permanently paralysed. But Aslam saheb wasn’t giving up so easily. He lived, and recovered completely. No paralysis, no complications, only marks that he now displays proudly like trophies from a battle well-fought and justifiably won. The only thing that the attack did was display the immense affection that people had for him.
This is the Wah that I discovered earlier this week: a quiet little city where clerics line up to save the life of a pastor accused of blasphemy; where during anti-Ahmadi riots some decades ago, friends moved into Ahmadi friends’ houses and dared anyone to attack them; where people such as Aslam saheb have worked tirelessly to erode the effects of sectarian hatred bred by groups with no interest in the welfare of the people. In the city that was once rent asunder by periodic Shia-Sunni conflict, the two communities now march together during Muharram. Here, people dare to stand up for their rights; and people like Aslam saheb stand up to those whom even our politicians in power dare not question. Aslam saheb is not ‘rich’ by any stretch of the imagination; he does not come from an ‘influential’ family. But he has support — from people on behalf of whom he fights. People whose battles he takes as his own. Those were the people who lined up to try and save his life when there was no hope of him making it through to the other side.
All of this begs the question: if someone like Aslam saheb can take such principled stands, what is stopping people whom we elected from doing the same? Is clinging to power willy-nilly the sole purpose of democracy? And is that really more important than the welfare of the electorate?
On a side-note, I’m curious: which political party was General Ashfaque Pervaiz Kayani representing during the recent All-Parties Conference?
The writer is a freelance journalist based in Karachi. She can be reached via Twitter (@UroojZia) or email (contact AT uroojzia.com).
My salute to you Aslam saheb (from a far away continent).
Let there be more of you on earth…
…and "You Bloody Civilians" forget the level of corruption in civil ranks…!
As it is justification enough for the corruption rampant among the khakis?
pakistan neede more and more aslam sahib in this critical time to make pakistan united,to ight many en ymies,to mantain democracy pakistan doing well bravely since many years and they are showing world they have talent an they can fight for their rights,thankyou
I am proud to be a citizen of Wah Cantt.
This was an excellent & important article that shows that there is another Pakistan where citizens stand up for justice & integrity.This is the real Pakistan and well done Urooj Zia for bringing Aslam Sahib's story to the us all!!
Allah bless Aslam sahib! We need more people like him, many, many more!! But tell me, Ms. Urooj Zia, while narrating the story of such heroes, is it necessary to demonstrate your hatred for the armed forces? Do you think that crusades against corruption among Generals only merit recognition? Have you ever visited FBR offices? Have you tried to get a site drawing approved from CDA? Have you applied for a weapon license? Or for that matter, have you visited the French palace of Mr. Zardari or the steel mills of Sharifs in Saudia? I understand that it is a popular topic for any up and coming journalist to thrash the Army by quoting words like "bloody civilian". I am sure you will get many facebook and twitter referrals. I am a retired Army officer (retired 10 years ago and managing on my pension and a small retail business). During my entire service of 28 years, I never heard any army officer use these words. Why such hatred from your side? Shouldn't your article be classified as HATE SPEECH? You are doing no service to the cause of Aslam sahib by promoting your own personal agenda!!!
I didn’t realise 28 years of service caused brain erosion. I’d heard stories, but this was the first time I’ve seen the phenomenon in action. Thank you for the laughs.
A pleasure reading the article about Aslam sahib. We need more people like these, many, many more!! But please, was it necessary to show a pronounced anti-Army bias in the article. There are many other forms of corruption that require even greater crusades to overcome. These forms include a vast variety of corrupt civilian setups. Use of the words "bloody civilians" in the article was not justified. I am a retired army officer with over 28 years of service to my credit. I have not seen or heard any such feelings or behavior towards civilians during my service. We are all basically civilians first. Many come from pure civilian backgrounds. Do not resort to cheap point scoring by hitting on the army. Differences of opinion are always respectable but in this case you over-stepped by maligning the army in an article that should have focused on a true hero like Aslam sahib. Just to clarify further regarding corruption in civil, try FBR, WAPDA, PEMRA licenses, price variations in petroleum products, Railways, issuance of weapons licenses, issuance of CNG licenses, prominent anchors of TV, etc. The list goes on and on. Corruption needs to be tackled wholesomely in all organizations!
@UroojZia Is that the most educated response that you could muster? I consider your reply as a personal attack. In any case, I don't think that my reply would pass the "moderation" standards, even though yours has!!
Boo-frikkin’-hoo.
I must say that education or lack thereof has had a remarkable impact on the level of intellect (talk about brain erosion!) displayed in your reply ("Boo-frikkin'-hoo.") I used to think that freedom of media is going to have a huge impact on strengthening of democracy and overall social development of the country. With "journos" like you, I am glad that the readership of blogs like these is greatly diluted amongst so many of its kind! Best of luck with your Boo-frikkin'-hoo!!!
I have known Mr. A slam for over a half century. He is a wonderful soul who has courage, initiative and drive. His love for every one in distress and helpful attitude makes people love him and adore him. I and my family wish him success and pray that may he live for hundred more years to crusade for the eradication of evils from the society. Good luck A slam saheb and Arooj saheba for courageous effort.
Ahmads from Canada.
I know Mr M Aslam since his childhood as we both were born and brought in the same town of Sargodha District. He is very daring and brave from the very beginning of his school life. Serving and helping others is his favourite motto. By chance I was in Pakistan when a bloody incident happed to him. I went to POF hospital to visit him and I am evident of complete scene which Ms UroojZia mentioned in her article. He got a second life only because of the prayers of his well-wishers. At this occasion every body wanted to help him as he has done more than his capacity for his people and community.
The piece of land mentioned in article basically belongs to the poor workers of POF but some Generals wanted to distribute (bandar bant) it among themselves. Mr Aslam is the main hurdle in their conspiracy. We are proud of him and will always back/pray for his noble causes. Mr Aslam Keep it up and best of luck.
A. Ghaffar from Manchester, UK
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