Sher Shah embraced martyrdom trying to save his brother’s life

 APS tragedy

PESHAWAR: His name was Sher Shah and he acted like a “sher” (lion) just before embracing martyrdom at the Army Public School on December 16, 2014.

According to his father Muhammad Tufail, Sher Shah was sitting in the front rows of the auditorium when the terrorists launched the attack. “He ran towards the rear where his younger brother Ahmad Ali Shah was seated. He bravely tried to save his brother’s life and was hit in the chest as the attackers fired at him,” recalled Tufail.

Teenager Sher Shah made his father and family proud. “The enemy attacked from the rear side, but my son took the bullet on his chest from the front. He did justice to his name. Sher Shah Shaheed was my lion!” remarked Tufail. A year after the Army Public School tragedy, Tufail cannot help narrating his son’s remarkable qualities of head and heart. “Sher Shah was good at studies and used to win the top positions in the class. He actively participated in extra-curricular activities and won prizes in debate competitions,” he remembered.

Tufail pointed out that Sher Shah began reading books on politics, history and literature at a young age. “Sher Shah had already read books by some of the leading authors. Turkey’s Suleman the Magnificent and the Pakhtun king Sher Shah Suri were his favourite personalities in history,” he added.

According to Tufail, his son was fluent in Pashto, Urdu and English and was fond of Pashto poetry and literature. “Sher Shah liked the Pashto poets Ghani Khan, Ajmal Khattak and Rahmat Shah Sail,” he said.

Tufail said his son was fond of nature and was curious to know about the characteristics of animals and birds. He added that Sher Shah took keen interest in the sciences and inventions and had gained some knowledge about precious stones. He said Sher Shah also knew about Islam and prayed five times a day.

Certain local journalists remembered the smart and handsome Sher Shah meeting them in the company of his father and discussing local, regional and international events.Tufail had been a journalist before he changed his career and joined an industrial group. He maintained contacts with journalists and sometimes Sher Shah accompanied him during his visits to offices of media organizations.

In due course of time Sher Shah developed a liking for journalism. Tufail said his son told him he wanted to become a journalist. “Sher Shah had made up his mind to be a journalist. I am sure he will have done well in the profession,” he opined.

However, Sher Shah’s life was cut short by the terrorists who went on the rampage in the Army Public School a year ago and assassinated 147 persons, including 122 schoolchildren.

Sher Shah’s martyrdom at the age of 15 has lessened the pain of his parents and siblings. His loving memory is also kept alive by the government school in the family village, Daag Ismailkhel, in Nowshera district named after him.