The media can play a very important role by commemorating the feats of courage of such brave young men.
KARACHI: As in past years, the date of August 20 passed away unnoticed and our so-called active print and electronic media did not even care to mention that this day marked the martyrdom of one of the great Pakistani air warriors and the only recipient of the Nishan-e-Haider (Pakistan’s highest military award) from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). As is quite well known, while under training as a fighter pilot at a PAF base, Rashid Minhas was taxiing out for take-off on his T-33 trainer jet when one of the instructor pilots forced his way into his rear cockpit and seized control of the aircraft, and headed for India. With just 40 miles left before the plane entered Indian airspace and having failed to regain control of the aircraft, Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas forced the plane to crash just short of the Indian territory and sacrificed his life.
Rashid Minhas was just 20 at the time. But even at this tender young age, he proved equal to the task and his act of heroism proved to be above and beyond the call of duty. Keeping in mind the demoralising situation we face in the country today, the media can play a very important role by commemorating the feats of courage of such brave young men. This can lift the morale of the country and especially, of our armed forces, in these troubled times.
Muhammad Asif
Published in The Express Tribune, August 24th, 2013.
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