By: Asem Mustafa Awan
He goes by the name of Brigadier TM in and around the world and his courage was considered a hallmark in all ranks of Pakistan army.
Twice Sitara-i-Jurat in 1965 and 71 wars, he was conferred with Sitara-i-Basalat in 1973 and Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) in 2003.
May 29, 1989 is tragic day in the history of Pakistan particularly for those who hold TM close to their hearts. TM jumped to his death as his parachutes both main and emergency were tangled up and couldn’t open in the free fall which he did over Rahwali during the Aviation School passing out ceremony. TM was close to his 200 free fall which is explanatory enough to underline that fact that he was an experienced sky diver.
The incident is a rarity in skydiving world as extreme care is taken in folding the parachutes as it is but dare devils who jump from 10,000 feet and above. Those packing parachutes also know a slight mistake can cost a human life.
A brief military background on son of the soil starts with year 1960 when he joined the military academy and from 1963 onwards till 1989 his deeds of valour are recorded and carried on by word of mouth and is in the hearts of the people.
People who have stood and fought beside him remember him as real lion among lions.
TM joined 2nd Baloch Regiment after passing out from the Pakistan Military Academy and was selected for Ist Commando Battalion ‘Yaldram’ (Shaheen Company).
The details of his operations are mostly classified in Pakistan army but few incidents where he was asked to get things sorted the ‘man of steel’ was there to keep things straight.
Born on October 8, 1938 in Multan, he did is intermediate from Gordon College and Bachelors from Government College Lahore in 1959. His deeds of valour include operations in India in 1965. In 1971 he was active in East Pakistan followed by Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in late 80’s.
The Pan Am Operation in 1986 and prior to that operation on Siachen Glacier in 1984 are few of the distinguished fetes TM did with his team when the call was made and he was there to respond. It is high time the government that is blamed for changing the syllabus for moulding the minds of the children should include real-life heroes and tell the younger generation that their mentors in the past achieved laurels that are beyond the dreams of many.