Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Old Soldiers in India and Pakistan

As an old soldier I was sorry to read a news item from Lahore headlined "Ex-colonel dies as CS’s car hits bike" reporting the death of a retired colonel - Col Muhammad Ikram (retired)- when the official car of Punjab chief secretary hit the bike he was riding near the old airport on Saturday January 22, 2010. He was on his way to the Allama Iqbal University sub-campus when CS Javed Mahmood’s car hit the two-wheeler. The chief secretary, along with his motorcade, was returning from Lahore airport after seeing PM Yousuf Raza Gilani off. The report said Col Ikram suffered critical injuries and died at the CMH where he was rushed after the accident.

Azam Ikram, son of the deceased, told reporters the family would knock every door to seek justice, the report said.

I was surprised to know the retired colonel was riding a motorcycle. I was under the impression that unlike India, in Pakistan all military officers - retired or serving rode only cars. It seems the fate of old soldiers are the same world over!

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