An unforgettable September 1965 night

I’ve loved Pakistan right from my childhood, leading small boys and raising slogans in its favour near a cattle barrack at Paisa Akhbaar market of Lahore in April-May of 1947. Arrest and release by New Anarkali police station at the protest of my father, who created in me the spirit of freedom and urge to defend homeland.
Today I’m one of those millions who’re ready to sacrifice their lives for the sake of every inch of Pakistan if enemy again attacks the country and its people who believe in peace and prosperity.
Indian shelling and killing of innocent men, women and children of border villages has more than doubled the amount of almost every bold citizen’s patriotism. One feels as bold and brave not only as former military cadet and lecturer and author but as one of senior most journalists.
Why should one not expose the neighbour who has not accepted the existence of Pakistan de jure and de facto?
There have been occasions when India chose to tell lie and hide the truth. Four Pakistani soldiers were kidnapped and kept in second storey ward of Amritsar Jail, but India brazenly denied, officially conveying: “no such thing has happened.”
I took a decision on my own and went to Amritsar through proper channel. Arrested during short stay at a hotel and sent to the same jail I made up my mind to play the match. I was physically tortured but that didn’t weaken my determination. One day with due permission we ‘prisoners’ staged a ‘bhangra’. The show was successful and that was ‘great escape’ of kidnapped men. At Wagah I got confirmed the return of the soldiers from Lahore GOC General Azam Khan. It all happened in March 1957, and India was exposed.
India launched aggression on the peaceful neighbour and its people on 6th of September 1965 in violation of international law. Attack was repulsed and enemy defeated with the might of masses and armed forces.
At that time this scribe was working as a sub-editor in The Pakistan Times, Westridge, in Rawalpindi. One night siren sounded at about 11p.m., all lights were switched off and entire staff walked out of the news room. It was pin-drop silence in the area. We smelt enemy warplane was over our head targeting our premises.
Enemy dropped a bomb somewhere in civilian populated area, but there was no thud and fire. Early in the morning citizens and newsmen saw for themselves the unexploded bomb near Sadiqabad. God helps those who unite and help themselves.
zasarwar@hotmail.com