It is unfortunate that none of our leaders had the decency to visit MM Alam while he was alive.
KARACHI: While our politicians and big-wigs are busy plundering the country and have given us nothing in 65 years, our true hero whose heroics kept every Pakistani’s head high for generations is no longer with us. Air Commodore (retd) MM Alam, recipient of the Sitara-e-Jurrat, the legendary fighter pilot, passed away recently in Karachi. The PAF is much smaller in size compared with the army. However, it has proportionally produced more legendary figures compared with its sister service. Air Commodore (retd) Alam was definitely one of the best the PAF has ever produced. He made a world record in less than a minute; he shot down five Indian fighter aircraft in 55 seconds during the 1965 war, thus establishing his status as an ace pilot.
This unique feat was not even achieved by American fighter pilots in the Korean or Vietnam wars or in the Middle East, nor by any European or American fighter pilot during the Second World War. Those 55 seconds in the murky weather of September 1965 virtually crushed the backbone of the Indian Air Force.
The present air chief is to be commended as he used to visit Air Commodore (retd) Alam from time to time during his illness and spent time with him despite his busy schedule. But it is unfortunate and shameful that none of our so-called leaders had the decency to ever visit him while he was alive.
Muhammad Asif
Published in The Express Tribune, March 20th, 2013.
