Sadpara conquered Everest in May 2011 without any supplemental oxygen. PHOTO: FILE
More than two years on, Hasan Sadpara still awaits recognition for a feat that brought pride to him and the country.
Sadpara, a resident of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), scaled the world’s highest peak Mount Everest (8,848 metres) without supplemental oxygen in May 2011, becoming the first Pakistani to achieve the feat. But in return, he has not received what was officially promised in recognition of his achievement.
“What I was promised included 10 kanals of land in Skardu, a cash award and the construction of a mountaineering school by the government,” Sadpara told The Express Tribune on Saturday. He is also the first Pakistani who has climbed six of the fourteen mountains which cross the 8,000-metre mark in the world. “I haven’t got any of the promised rewards so far,” said Sadpara.
What the national hero has received so far is a Grade-7 job in the police department where he serves as an instructor.
The 50-year-old climber complained he was not even allowed to see ex-prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and former president Asif Zardari after he returned from Nepal. “My achievement was meant for the country and it warranted recognition from the head of state,” said the climber who lives in Skardu.
Comparing himself with Samina Baig, Sadpara said his feat was in no way less than what she achieved for the country. “I was denied a meeting but she was lucky enough to make it to the prime minister,” he said. Samina met Nawaz Sharif after she became the first Pakistani woman to scale Everest.
In his quest to meet the president, Sadpara once even quit his job. In April 2012, former president Zardari and Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited Gayari sector, where 138 soldiers and civilians had been trapped under an avalanche. Sadpara claimed he was manhandled as he tried to make his way to the president at the airport. As a result, he resigned but was later made to rejoin his job – the sole acclamation of his mountaineering feat. “Please don’t call me a hero. Heroes aren’t treated the way I am.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (4)
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It is unfortunate that national heros are man handled but the question remains, will we ever end this culture of awarding lands and money for personal acheivements from public funds. Its my (taxpayer) money that could be spent on security health etc that successive rulers have granted to cricket hockey and other players including imran khan etc. I would like to know which dynasty these givts represent where the can waste public money and people make claims for awards. I too want to be rewarded forbeing a loyal citizen a taxpayer and the bank forcall the extravagent lifestyles ofcthesr nawabs.
Mountaineering, Guiness World Records, Space Program, all these stuff looks good on developed countries profile, who do not have urgent survival problems. Please for God's sake, do something for saving lives in Pakistan. If you don't know anything except mountaineering, then at least make sure any foreign tourists who come climbing Mount K2 are not killed again.
This proves what mind set we have as a nation.