Ms Menaal Fatima daughter of late Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir

First of all I would like to express my feeling of deep gratitude for the many messages of grief and sorrow on the tragic incident of the plane crash. Indeed it is a great loss not only for the family, but also for us and for the whole nation. We mourn the loss of ACM Mushaf Ali Mir, Begum Bilquis Mushaf Ali Mir, AVM Abdul Razzaq, AVM Saleem A Nawaz and all those in his entourage. This incident was one of its kind in PAF’s history. The nation was deprived of both the members of the PAF first family and two Principal Staff Officers along with other distinguished senior officers, as well as the members of the crew, both officers and men. We pray for the departed souls and beseech Allah’s blessings and bounties. “INNA-LILLAHI-WA-INNA-ILAHI-RAJI-UN”.

Columnist SOBIA NISAR interviews the daughter of the late PAF Chief.

Q. Where were you when the tragedy took place? Who informed you about the shocking news?
A. I was in Peshawar at that time. I was informed by one of my Aunties.

Q. Please tell us something about your father. How did he pass his life? When did he join the Pakistan Air Force?
A. My father joined PAF before 1965 war. He was a dynamic man. He led a very simple life. He worked very hard to reach at the point where he stood. He lived every moment of his life to the fullest.

Q. Your father took over the responsibilities as Chief of Air Staff in Nov 2000. What did you feel at that time?
A. We felt very happy at that time. Naturally, all of us were very excited at that time but at the same time we felt scared too as it was a huge responsibility that he was encountered with.

Q. What were his hobbies? His personality traits?
A. His ultimate interest was in sports. He was very good at games. When he was young, he used to play squash and basketball. But nowadays, golf was the centre of his attraction. We seldom got time to see him in his last days as he arrived home round about eight o’clock. Whenever he had time, he used to relax. He kept his office activities separate from his family activities. He was a man of high principles. He never believed in “Safarish” but in “Merit”. He was totally a self-made person.
He was a very good singer. He had a wonderful voice. He was very fond of listening to music. He was an artistic painter. There are a lot of paintings in our house that he accomplished himself.

Q. What was his attitude towards life? Towards his family and friends?
A. He was very fun loving sort of a person. He had an extremely loving and caring nature. He had such a positive approach towards life that everyone thought he was his best friend. He was a very down to earth kind of person and very humble.
He loved to make friends. He was very warm-hearted towards family, kids and friends. In the company of kids, he used to behave like children and in the company of elders, he talked elderly. He has left a memorable mark on the heart of every person who knew him.

Q. Tell us something about the relationship between your parents. How did they pass their lives?
A. They enjoyed a very happy marital life. They lived and died together. They were more like friends and possessed deep affiliation with each other. Due to deep understanding and profound love they were dependent on each other in all aspects. During their lifetime, they learnt a lot from each other.

Q. How many brothers and sisters do you have?
A. I have two brothers. My elder brother Nabeel is an Electrical Engineer in America. He has been there for two years. He got married a month ago. My younger brother Maseel is in the final year of A Levels from Roots Rawalpindi. I am a doctor. I have basically completed BDS from Army Medical College Rawalpindi. Nowadays, I am doing house job in AFID Rawalpindi.

Q. Please describe your mother’s role in your family?
A. My mother was the centre of the family. She was the point of attraction for all of us. My mother was the heart whereas my father was the mind of the family. My mother was fond of cooking too. But most of the time she remained busy with social work. She used to say that God has gifted us with so many blessings, we should share them with the needy. In her last days, she was doing a correspondence course from England in Journalism.

Q. Do you remember any unforgettable incident regarding your parents?
A. Everything was memorable about them. Especially a night before my brother’s departure to America whereby all family members were sitting together in the bedroom, relaxing and chatting together was one of the moments which all of us cannot forget.

Q. Tell us something about your father’s role in Kargil operations and wars fought with India?
A. Since we are not in Service hence this question needs to be taken up with the people who were involved directly with him during those times of crisis. We are very proud of our father for what he has achieved and accomplished for the PAF during his career.

Q. How would you describe your father in 1 sentence.
Ans. He was a professional par-excellence. He was an extraordinary human being with so many good qualities in one person.

Q. Any particular message that you would like to give to the nation?
A. I would like to tell the nation that my father made it with honesty and hardwork to reach the position where he was. Honesty must cover all aspects of life as it is the key to success. Please work hard honestly in the right direction and leave the rest to God.
Secondly, our nation should focus on peoples welfare and education. We should work collectively to make this country a success. Efforts have to be accumulated as a whole in order to make this country progress and prosper. This message is not only for the people in Pakistan but also for the overseas Pakistanis.