‘Chacha Pakistani’ of Wagha Border passes away at 90

Chacha Pakistani, Mehar Din, the man who used to be Pakistan’s cheerleader at the Wagah Border flag ceremony every single day, died on Sunday at the age of 90.
He was always seen wearing and waving the Pakistani flag at the Wagha border. Mehar Din was born in 1922 and was unmarried. While his brothers migrated to Pakistan at the time of its creation, Chacha came here post-Partition. He had no home of his own and lived with his nephews.
Chacha Pakistani’s nephew said, “Ever since we were born, we have seen him go to the Wagah Border every single day.”
“He loved military rule and disliked democratic governments,” the nephew added. Former president Pervaiz Musharraf had sent him for Umrah on a political quota. He also revealed that his uncle had no source of income and made a living out of money people would give to him at the border.
Living some 40km away, he would hitch hike to Wagah every day, getting out of one car and getting into another, even willing to walk to his destination. Chacha Pakistani had also received awards and certificates from Rangers and other officials visiting the border. Devoted to Pakistan and a true patriot, Chacha Pakistani went to the border everyday adorned in his kurta made out of a flag of Pakistan. He had this eccentricity, his nephew said, adding that Chacha would never let the Pakistani flag touch the ground. They said he was almost scared of that ever happening. The cause of his death was unclear as his family did not have money to take him to a hospital. All that is known was that he was suffering from a fever and cough for the past few days.
Chacha’s hometown was a village in Punjab called Chandrai where he will be laid to rest, wrapped in his beloved green and white flag.